A 59-year-old Na‘alehu man died Friday following a single-vehicle collision on Ka‘alaiki Road near the Makino Junction in Na‘alehu.
The man has been positively identified as Derrick Lee Huddy.
Responding to a 4:25 p.m. call, police determined that a camouflage 2021 Polaris Ranger XP1000 utility vehicle heading east on Ka‘alaiki Road was making a right turn when the driver lost control and rolled over. Huddy, who was driving the vehicle, was transported to Kona Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 11 p.m.
A 54-year-old male passenger from Kea‘au was transported to the Ka‘u Hospital for his injuries and was later released.
Both men were not wearing their seatbelts at the time of the crash.
An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.
The Area II Traffic Enforcement Unit has initiated a coroner’s inquest investigation and is asking for anyone who may have witnessed the collision to contact Officer Jason Foxworthy at (808) 326-4646 ext. 229 or email at Jason.foxworthy@hawaiicounty.gov. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.
This is the 17th traffic fatality this year compared to 13 at this time last year.