Hawaiʻi Police Department
Traffic Enforcement Unit
Officer Kimo Keliipaakaua
Phone: 326-4646, Ext. 229
Report No. C15010383
Media Release
A 56-year-old Kona man died following a three-vehicle collision Tuesday evening (April 7) in Kailua-Kona.
He has been identified as Robert Pfleger of Hōlualoa.
Responding to a 5:24 p.m. call, police determined that a 2004 Jeep Cherokee operated by 31-year-old Anna Vaverko of Kailua-Kona was traveling west on Hina Lani Street. At the intersection of Hina Lani Street and Kamanu Street, the Jeep turned left onto Kamanu Street and ran head-on into a 2007 Yamaha motorcycle operated by Pfleger, which was traveling east on Hina Lani Street. The Jeep then ran head-on into a Ford F-150 pickup truck operated by a 74-year-old man, which was traveling north on Kamanu Street.
Pfleger, who was wearing a helmet, sustained injuries to his legs and head from the collision. He was taken to Kona Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 6:04 p.m. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.
Occupants of the truck and Jeep were not injured.
Vaverko was arrested on suspicion of negligent homicide. She was later released pending further investigation.
The Traffic Enforcement Unit has initiated a negligent homicide investigation and is asking for anyone who witnessed the crash to call Officer Kimo Keliipaakaua or Officer Christopher Kapua-Allison at 326-4646, extension 229.
Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.
This is the seventh traffic fatality this year compared with four at this time last year.
