HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT UNIT
OFFICER BRADLEY F. FREITAS
PHONE: 961-2332
OCTOBER 4, 2004
I-07595
MEDIA RELEASE
A 41-year-old man was killed Saturday (October 2, 2004) in a single-vehicle crash on Akoni Pule Highway (Route 270) one-tenth of a mile north of the 16-mile marker in Kapaa, North Kohala.
The victim was identified as Robert T. Suenaga, of a Kapaau address.
Responding to a 6:31 a.m. Call Saturday, North Kohala patrol officers determined that Suenaga was driving a 1989 GMC pickup truck north on the highway when he lost control of the vehicle, which ran off the west side of the road, overturned and ejected the driver from the vehicle.
The victim was taken to the Kona Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Police have not determined if speed or alcohol was a factor in the crash, and an autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.
Traffic Enforcement Unit officers are conducting a coroner’s inquest investigation into the crash, and anyone with information about the accident is asked to call Officer Eric Cerezo of the TEU at 961-2332.
Saturday’s death was the 33rd traffic fatality on the Big Island so far this year, compared to 23 for the same period last year.
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