HAWAII POLICE DEPARTMENT
TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT UNIT
SERGEANT CHRISTOPHER D. GALI
PHONE: 961-2332
AUGUST 22, 2005

MEDIA RELEASE

A 54-year-old Kealakekua man died of injuries suffered in a motorcycle-motor vehicle collision Sunday evening (August 21, 2005) at the intersection of Kuakini Highway, Kamehameha III Road and Walua Road.

Responding to a 10:39 p.m. call, Kona patrol officers determined that the victim, identified Michael D. Bovard, was riding a 2000 Kawasaki motorcycle north on Kuakini when he struck a vehicle in front of him making a right turn onto Walua road.

Bovard was taken to the Kona Community Hospital, where he later died at 8:50 a.m. the following morning. The driver of the other vehicle, a 42-year-old Pennsylvania man, was not injured.

It was not immediately determined if speed or alcohol was involved in the collision. Traffic Enforcement Unit officers have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

The death was the 23rd traffic fatality on the Big Island so far this year, compared to 28 at the same time last year.

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