HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT UNIT
SERGEANT SAMUEL V. JELSMA
PHONE: 961-2332
JUNE 14, 2000
G-31966
MEDIA RELEASE
A 53-year-old Hilo man died Wednesday morning (June 14, 2000) of injuries he sustained the day before in a motorcycle crash.
The victim was identified as Moses Makuakane of a Hilo address.
The accident occurred on Kalanianaole Avenue near Baker Street in the Keaukaha area of Hilo fronting Puhi Bay Park.
Responding to a 2:30 p.m. call on Tuesday, police determined that Makuakane was riding a green and silver Harley Davidson motorcycle east on Kalanianaole when he was forced to brake suddenly to avoid a collision with an automobile that was slowing in traffic. Makuakane’s motorcycle fell over onto its side, and he was thrown from the bike.
Makuakane, who had not been wearing a helmet, was transported from the scene with head injuries to the Hilo Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 10:37 a.m. on Wednesday.
The accident has been classified as a single-vehicle crash.
Traffic Enforcement Unit officers are continuing the investigation.
Anyone who witnessed the accident is asked to call the lead investigator, Officer William Torres, at 961-2332.
Makuakane’s death was the 15th traffic fatality so far this year — and the fourth in four days — compared to 10 at the same time last year,
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