Hawai’i Police Department
Traffic Enforcement Unit
Sergeant Christopher D. Gali
Phone: 961-2332
September 6, 2009
Report No. C09025985

A 49-year-old California man died Sunday (September 6) from injuries he sustained in a two-vehicle crash on Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway and Makala Boulevard.

Responding to a 8:48 a.m. call, Kona patrol officers determined that a 36-year-old Lahaina man was operating a 1999 Dodge pick-up truck which was towing a trailer with three canoes and traveling north on the highway when the trailer got dislodged from the truck, crossed the median and struck a 2009 Ford Escape multi-purpose vehicle traveling south.

During the collision between the trailer and the Ford Escape, one of the canoes crashed through the windshield of vehicle striking the driver.

The driver was transported to Kona Community Hospital, where he died at 9:45 a.m.

The driver of the pick-up and his passengers where not injured.

Traffic Enforcement Unit officers have initiated a negligent homicide investigation and have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

The name of the victim is being withheld pending positive identification and notification of the next of kin.

This is the 19th traffic fatality on the Big Island this year compared with 19 at the same time last year.