Hawai‘i Police Department
Area I Traffic Enforcement Unit
Sergeant Jeremy Riddle
Phone: (808) 961-2339
Report No.: 24-079285
Media Release
Hawai‘i Island police are investigating a traffic collision involving a motor vehicle and motorcycle in Pāhoa on Thursday afternoon, August 29, 2024, which sent one man to the hospital with critical injuries.
At 2:42 p.m., when officers responded to the scene of the collision at the intersection of Ainaloa Boulevard and Ainaloa Way, they learned that a 2004 Chevy pickup truck was traveling west (mauka) on Ainaloa Boulevard. As the pickup negotiated a left turn onto Ainaloa Way it struck a motorcyclist, who was traveling east (makai) on Ainaloa Boulevard.
The operator of the motorcycle, a 33-year-old man from Pāhoa, was unresponsive at the scene and transported to Hilo Benioff Medical Center in critical condition. He was subsequently flown to Queens Medical Center on Oahu for further treatment.
The operator of the Chevy pickup truck, a 41-year-old woman from Pāhoa, and her four juvenile passengers, were not injured as a result of the collision.
At this time police believe that speed and impairment are factors in this investigation.
The East Hawaii Traffic Enforcement Unit responded to the scene and is continuing this negligent injury investigation.
If anyone has additional information regarding this collision, please contact Officer Johnathan Rapoza at (808) 961-2339, or via email at Johnathan.Rapoza@hawaiicounty.gov. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.
