Hawai‘i Police Department
Traffic Enforcement Unit – Area I
Sergeant Jeremy Riddle
Phone: (808) 961-2391
Report No.: 22-039004
Media Release
Hawai‘i Island police are investigating a single vehicle traffic collision in Puna that resulted in the death of a Kailua-Kona man. The collision occurred on Thursday, May 5, 2022, on Kahakai Boulevard, in the Hawaiian Beaches area of Pahoa.
Responding to the 3:27 p.m. report of a collision, police investigators determined that a 2008 Honda Civic sedan left a nearby driveway and proceeded down (east) Kahakai Boulevard. The Honda Civic then crossed to the north side of the roadway and struck a mailbox and chain-link fence of a residence before coming to a stop. At the time of the collision the roadway was wet and it had been raining off and on.
The operator of the sedan, 31-year-old Ashton Martines, of Kailua Kona, was unresponsive at the scene and transported to Hilo Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead at 4:51 p.m. An autopsy has been requested to determine the exact cause of death.
The front seat passenger of the sedan, a 30 year-old man, did not receive any injuries as a result of the traffic collision.
The East Hawaii Traffic Enforcement Unit is conducting further investigation relative to any contributing factors and have initiated a coroner’s inquest investigation, which is pending.
Police are asking for anyone who may have witnessed the collision to contact Officer Blayne Matsui at (808) 961-2339 or via email Blayne.Matsui@HawaiiCounty.gov. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.
This is the 14th fatal traffic collision of 2022 compared to 8 fatal traffic collisions during this same time period last year.