- Hawaii Police Department - https://www.hawaiipolice.com -

Kona fatality 01-07-07

HAWAII POLICE DEPARTMENT
TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT UNIT
SERGEANT CHRISTOPHER D. GALI
PHONE: 961-2332
JANUARY , 2007
REPORT NO. C0C000728

MEDIA RELEASE

Two Kailua-Kona men were killed Sunday (January 7) from injuries sustained in a two-vehicle crash on Queen Kaahumanu Highway .8 miles south of the 94-mile marker.

Responding to a 2:59 a.m. call, Kona patrol officers determined that a 1995 Jeep multi-purpose vehicle was traveling north on Queen Kaahumanu Highway when the vehicle overtook another vehicle in a no-passing zone and collided head on with a 1992 Mitsubishi 2-door sedan traveling south.

Fire rescue personnel took both drivers to Kona Community Hospital, where they were pronounced dead at 5:09 a.m.

A 21-year-old passenger in the Jeep was treated and released from Kona Community Hospital.

The driver of the Jeep was identified as Richard B. Walsh, 23, of Kailua-Kona.

Police are withholding the name of the driver of the Mitsubishi pending positive identification.

Traffic Enforcement Unit officers have initiated a negligent homicide, coroner’s inquest and negligent injury case and have ordered autopsies to determine the exact cause of death.

The deaths are the first and second traffic fatalities on the Big Island this year compared with none at this time last year.

# # #