HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT UNIT
OFFICER SAMUEL V. JELSMA
PHONE: 961-2332
JUNE 30, 1999
F-99124
MEDIA RELEASE
A 39-year-old Kona man died Wednesday afternoon (June 30, 1999) following a motorcycle accident that occurred on Alii Drive in Keauhou, North Kona.
The victim was identified as Francois “Frank” Freire, of Kailua-Kona.
Responding to a 4:15 p.m. accident call, patrol officers determined that the victim was riding his 1983 Kawasaki motorcycle heading south on Alii Drive about four-tenths of a mile south of the 5 mile marker when he ran off the right shoulder, possibly struck a road sign and went down an embankment.
The victim was taken to Kona Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 4:52 p.m.
Freire was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. Witnesses said he was traveling at a high rate of speed and passing vehicles on the right before running off the road.
Traffic Enforcement Unit officers are continuing the investigation to determine if speed and alcohol were factors in the accident. They have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.
Freire’s was the 11th traffic fatality of the year so far, compared to 19 at the same time last year.
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