Hawaii Police Department
Traffic Enforcement Unit
Sergeant Christopher D. Gali
Phone: 961-2332
November 11, 2007
Report No. C07036473

Media Release

A 20-year-old Waimea man died Sunday (November 11, 2007) from injuries sustained in a two-vehicle crash on Akoni Pule Highway in the area of the 15 mile-marker.

Responding to a 1:50 a.m. call, North Kohala patrol and Traffic Enforcement Unit officers determined that two vehicles were traveling north on Akoni Pule Highway racing and driving recklessly when one vehicle struck the other.

A 21-year-old Puna woman was operating a 1988 Isuzu pick-up truck and traveling in the northbound lane when she struck the other vehicle which was a 1980 GMC pick-up truck which was also traveling north in the southbound lane.

The 20-year-old victim who was a passenger in the Isuzu pick-up truck was transported to the Kona Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 7:05 a.m. He was wearing a seatbelt.

The driver of the Isuzu pick-up truck was transported by Fire Department personnel to the North Hawaii Community Hospital where she was confined in serious condition. She was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle.

The driver of the GMC pick-up truck, Brian Santiago, 34, of North Kohala was arrested and charged with negligent homicide, operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant, no operator’s license, racing on highway, inattention to driving and driving while license suspended/revoked for DUI.

Santiago was being held at the Kona Police Station cellblock in lieu of $7,000 bail.

Three passengers in the GMC pick-up truck, 2 females and one male were not injured.

The name of the victim is being held pending positive identification.

Traffic Enforcement Unit officers have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

Anyone with information regarding this crash is asked to call Officer Marvin Troutman at 326-4646, extension 229.

This is the 35th traffic fatality on the Big Island this year compared to 30 at the same time last year.