HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT UNIT
SERGEANT SAMUEL V. JELSMA
PHONE: 961-2332
JULY 13, 1999
G-00151
MEDIA RELEASE UPDATE
Police have released the identity of a man killed in Monday’s (July 12, 1999) two-car collision at the intersection of Waikoloa Road and Queen Kaahumanu Highway (Route 19).
The victim was identified as Hitoshi Okada, 49, a Japanese national who was working on the Big Island and living in Waikoloa.
The accident occurred when Okada’s sedan made a left turn from Waikoloa Road onto Queen Kaahumanu Highway, failed to yield the right-of-way and collided with a tourist van heading toward Kawaihae. Okada was transported to the North Hawaii Community Hospital, where he later died during surgery. The driver of the van was treated at the scene for minor injuries.
Okada’s death was the 15th traffic fatality so far this year, compared to 20 at the same time last year.
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