Hawaiʻi Police Department
Area II Operations
Assistant Chief Paul Kealoha
Phone: 326-4646, Ext. 246
Media Release
A Michigan man died early Sunday (March 1) from a vehicle-bicycle crash in South Kohala.
He has been identified as 63-year-old Jeffrey C. Surnow of West Bloomfield, Michigan.
Police have determined that Surnow was riding a bicycle east on Waikoloa Road near the 11-mile marker when he was hit by a vehicle driven in the same direction by an on-duty police officer assigned to the South Kohala District. The officer who struck Surnow reported the crash around 6:25 a.m. Sunday.
Surnow was taken to North Kohala Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 10:25 a.m.
Traffic Enforcement Unit officers initiated a negligent homicide investigation and arrested the officer, 30-year-old Jody Buddemeyer, on suspicion of negligent homicide. He was later released pending further investigation.
The Office of Professional Standards will conduct an administrative investigation as is standard practice in any officer-involved fatality. The officer was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
Police ask anyone who witnessed the crash to call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311 or Officer Christopher Kapua-Allison at 326-4646, extension 229.
Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the island wide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential
