Media Release

A 70-year-old Pahoa man died Saturday (January 1) from injuries he sustained in a motor vehicle/motorcycle crash at the intersection of Kahakai Boulevard and Aweoweo Street in Hawaiian Beaches.

The motorcycle operator was identified as James F. Hurd of a Pahoa address.

Responding to a 10:56 a.m. call, Puna patrol officers determined that Hurd was operating a 1992 Kawasaki motorcycle and traveling west on Kahakai Boulevard when he collided with a 1995 Honda two-door sedan traveling north which had pulled out from Aweoweo Street after stopping at the stop sign.

The driver of the Honda, a 16-year-old boy from Pahoa was not injured.

The motorcycle operator was transported to the Hilo Medical Center by Fire Rescue personnel where he was pronounced dead at 11:55 a.m. 

The victim was wearing a helmet.

It is unknown at this time if speed, alcohol or drugs were factors in this crash.

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

Anyone who may have witnessed the crash is asked to call Officer Clarence Davies at 961-8118.

This is the 1^st traffic fatality on the Big Island this year compared to 1 at the same time last year.

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