Police ID two men killed in February 2023 S. Kohala traffic crash
Two men killed in a fiery South Kohala traffic collision last February have been identified, police said.
Using DNA and dental records, the victims have been identified as 37- year-old Jonathan Leland James and 27-year-old Graham R. Shure, both of Keaau.
The men died following a single-vehicle collision in the early morning hours on Feb. 5, 2023, at the intersection of Waikoloa Road and Queen Kaahumanu Highway in South Kohala.
Officers responding to a 3:25 a.m. call determined that a gray 2014 Jeep Cherokee driven by James was heading north on Queen Kaahumanu Highway when it veered off the roadway and struck a large metal traffic light post.
The vehicle then caught fire, trapping James and Shure. A third occupant, a 27-year-old Honokaa man, was able to escape from the vehicle.
All three men were taken to Kona Community Hospital where James and Shure succumbed to their injuries.
The third man has recovered.
Police have determined that speed and impairment played a major role in the crash.
