By Tribune-Herald staff
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Police on Monday hadn’t yet released the identity of a 32-year-old Puna man who was killed Sunday morning in a traffic collision on Volcano Highway (Route 11) in Keaau, but according to numerous social media posts, the deceased man is Negozi Young.

Officers responding to a traffic collision call at 10:32 a.m. learned that three motorcycles were traveling in a Hilo-bound direction on Highway 11, just below the Kamehameha Schools campus in Keaau, when a 2007 Dodge Caliber four-door sedan attempted to make a left turn from Old Volcano Road onto Highway 11.

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The lead motorcycle, a Yamaha ridden by Young, struck the sedan. The collision caused the lead motorcycle to strike the second motorcycle, a 2006 Suzuki GSX-R600 ridden by a 38-year-old Puna woman, causing her to lose control of her motorcycle and slide off the roadway. The third motorcyclist, a 41-year-old Kona man, was able to avoid striking the vehicle or debris, and he was not injured.

The Yamaha motorcycle driven by Young had no license plate, and at this time police are unable to confirm the year and model of the motorcycle.

Young was unresponsive at the scene and was transported to the Hilo Benioff Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 10:45 a.m. Sunday. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.

The operator of the Dodge four-door sedan, 34-year-old woman from Mountain View, and her juvenile passenger weren’t injured but were taken to Hilo Benioff Medical Center as a precaution.

The female operator of the Suzuki motorcycle was taken to Hilo Benioff Medical Center via private vehicle, where she was being treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

All three motorcyclists were wearing protective riding gear and helmets. At this time, police believe speed is a factor in this investigation. Alcohol and/or drugs are not believed to be a factor.

The East Hawaii Traffic Enforcement Unit responded to the scene, where they interviewed several witnesses and continue to investigate.

Anyone with additional information regarding this collision are asked to contact Officer Jerome Duarte at (808) 961-2339 or Jerome.Duarte@hawaiicounty.gov. Those who prefer anonymity may call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.

This is the fourth traffic fatality of 2025, the same number as of this time last year.