HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT UNIT
SERGEANT CHRISTOPHER D. GALI
PHONE: 961-8889
FEBRUARY 28, 2005
C05006282/HL
NEGLIGENT HOMICIDE

MEDIA RELEASE

A 35-year-old man died Monday (February 28, 2005) of injuries he suffered in a motorcycle-vehicle crash at the intersection of Ainaola Drive and Kaulike Street in the Waiakea-uka area of Hilo.

The victim was identified as Aaron Sampaga, of a Hilo address.

Responding to a 2:35 p.m. call, South Hilo patrol officers determined that Sampaga was riding a 2003 Suzuki motorcycle west on Ainaola Drive at a high rate of speed when he collided with a 2002 Volkswagen four-door sedan making a left turn from Kaulike Street onto Ainaola Drive.

The driver of the Volkswagen, a 43-year-old Hilo woman, was not injured.

Sampaga was taken to the Hilo Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 3:05 p.m.

Speed is considered to be a factor in the crash. Traffic Enforcement Unit officers have initiated a standard negligent homicide investigation into the crash and have requested an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

Monday’s death was the ninth traffic fatality on the Big Island so far this year, compared to seven at the same time last year.

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