- Hawaii Police Department - https://www.hawaiipolice.com -

Ka’u fatal 09-11-06

HAWAII POLICE DEPARTMENT
TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT UNIT
SERGEANT CHRISTOPHER D. GALI
PHONE: 961-2332
SEPTEMBER 11, 2006

MEDIA RELEASE

A 68-year-old Hawaiian Ocean View Estates man died Sunday (September 10, 2006) from injuries he sustained in a one-vehicle crash the previous day on the Hawaii Belt Road (Route 11) .1 mile south of the 54-mile marker in Ka’u.

Responding to an 11:25 a.m. call on Saturday (September 9, 2006), Ka’u patrol officers determined that a 1979 Chevrolet pickup truck operated by a 64-year-old Hawaiian Ocean View Estates man was traveling south on Route 11 when it ran off the right side of the road, struck a culvert and overturned. The 68-year-old passenger was partially ejected from the truck.

Fire rescue personnel took both the driver and passenger to Ka’u Hospital. The driver was treated and released. The passenger was later transferred to Kona Community Hospital. The passenger died at the hospital at 3:46 a.m. Sunday. His name is being withheld pending notification of his next of kin.

Speed and alcohol don’t appear to be factors in the crash. The truck apparently had no seat belts. Traffic Enforcement Unit officers have initiated a negligent homicide investigation and have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

Police ask anyone with information about the crash to call Officer Sharlotte Bird at 326-4646, extension 229.

This is the 27th traffic fatality on the Big Island this year compared with 24 at this time last year.

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