HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT UNIT
SERGEANT CHRISTOPHER D. GALI
PHONE: 961-2332
MAY 9, 2005
C05015167/KN
NEGLIGENT HOMICIDE

MEDIA RELEASE

A 47-year-old man died Sunday (May 8, 2005) of injuries he received when he was struck by a vehicle while trying to cross Kuakini Highway about one-tenth of a mile south of Palani Road.

The victim was identified as Hiram K. Kanuha, of Kailua-Kona.

Responding to a 10:15 p.m. call Saturday, Kona patrol officers determined that the victim was crossing to the mauka side Kuakini Highway from the Kona Coast Condominium driveway when he was struck by a vehicle being driven south by a 40-year-old Hilo man. The victim was not in a crosswalk, and the driver of the vehicle was not injured.

Fire Rescue personnel took the victim to the Kona Community Hospital, where he later died at 12:58 a.m.

It was not immediately known if speed or alcohol was a factor in the crash.

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

Anyone with information about this fatality is asked to call Officer Sharlotte Bird of the TEU at 326-4646, Ext. 299, or the police non-emergency number at 935-3311.

Sunday’s death was the 15th traffic fatality on the Big Island so far this year, compared to 17 at the same time last year.

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