HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT UNIT
SERGEANT SAMUEL V. JELSMA
PHONE: 961-2332
DECEMBER 25, 2000
REPORT NO. G-52246
MEDIA RELEASE
A man died Monday morning (December 25, 2000) in a one-vehicle traffic collision which occurred at the end of Kalanianaole Avenue and the gravel road leading into Kings Landing, in the Keaukaha area of the Hilo District.
The victim had no identification on his person at the time of the accident and has not been identified at the time of this writing.
Responding to a 5:38 a.m. call, police officers determined that the victim was driving a green 1993 Ford Festiva sedan heading East on Kalanianaole Avenue, when he came to the end of the pavement, ran off the roadway and struck a stonewall. The vehicle then went airborne and collided with a tree before coming to a stop. The victim was not wearing his seatbelt and was partially ejected from the car.
The victim was transported to the Hilo Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 7:17 a.m.
Traffic Enforcement Officers are continuing the investigation, and an autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death. Speed is believed to be a factor in the crash.
This was the 38th traffic fatality so far this year, compared to 31 at the same time last year.
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