A 25-year-old Kona man died Wednesday (June 3) from injuries he sustained in a motorcycle crash on Kealakehe Parkway, .5 miles east of Queen Ka‘ahumanu Highway in Kailua-Kona.

The victim was identified as Keahi N. Kamehaiku of a Kailua-Kona address.

Responding to an 8:11 p.m. call, Kona patrol officers and traffic investigators determined that the victim was operating a 2001 Yamaha motorcycle and traveling east on Kealakehe Parkway in the left lane.  Witnesses reported that the motorcycle was traveling at a high rate of speed as it passed a vehicle in the right lane. The motorcycle operator then changed to the right lane, where he struck the curb and lost control of the motorcycle.

The victim was not wearing a helmet.

The victim was taken to Kona Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 10:25 p.m.

Police believe that speed and alcohol were factors in this crash.

Traffic Enforcement Unit officers have initiated a coroner’s inquest case and have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

Police ask anyone with information about this crash to call Officer Johua Lewis at 326-4646, extension 229.

This is the 12^th traffic fatality on the Big Island this year compared with eleven at the same time last year.