An 18-year-old Ocean View man died following a single-vehicle crash Friday night on Highway 11 in South Kona.
An 18-year-old Ocean View man died following a single-vehicle crash Friday night on Highway 11 in South Kona.
The Hawaii Police Department identified the victim on Saturday as Alona Taetuna-Kaluau.
Responding to an 8:26 p.m. call, police determined that a black 2007 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck driven by a 30-year-old man with two passengers was heading south when it lost control and drove off of the makai shoulder of the roadway just south of mile marker 95. The pickup then struck a tree and rolled over.
The 30-year-old, Taetuna-Kaluau, who was a passenger in the vehicle, and a 6-year-old boy, who was also riding in the vehicle, were all taken Kona Community Hospital, according to police. None of the occupants of the vehicle was wearing their seat belts.
Taetuna-Kaluau later died and the 6-year-old remained hospitalized for observation Saturday. The driver, identified as Bruce Kuapaio Kahele, was treated and later released.
Kahele was arrested for negligent homicide, negligent injury, operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant, reckless endangering and child restraint violation. He remained in police custody Saturday as officers continued to investigate the crash.
Police said that impairment was a factor in the collision. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.
Anyone who may have witnessed the crash should contact Officer Jason Foxworthy by calling 326-4646, ext. 229, or via email at Jason.foxworthy@hawaiicounty.gov.
This is the 11th traffic fatality this year compared to eight at this time last year.
