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Kona Fatality 12-11-00

HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT UNIT
SERGEANT SAMUEL V. JELSMA
PHONE: 961-2332
DECEMBER 11, 2000
REPORT NO. G-49877

MEDIA RELEASE

Police have identified a Big Island man who was killed on Friday night (December 8, 2000) after his moped was struck by a motor vehicle on Route 11 near the Haawina street intersection in the Keauhou mauka area of Kona.

The victim is identified as a Dennis Hekkala, 60, of Keauhou mauka in Kona.

Responding to a 5:34 p.m. call, police officers determined that HEKKALA was operating a moped heading south on Route 11 when he executed a U-turn in the middle of the road and collided with a 1996 Nissan Pick-up heading northbound.

Following the crash, the victim who had not been wearing a helmet was transported to Kona hospital where he was pronounced dead at 7:53 p.m. The driver of the pick-up truck, Ian Tengan, M-25, of Holualoa in Kona, was not injured in the collision.

Traffic Enforcement Officers are continuing the investigation, and an autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death. Alcohol is believed to have been a factor in the crash and Police are asking anyone who witnessed the collision to contact Officer Kenneth Quiocho at 326-4277.

This was the 37th traffic fatality so far this year, compared to 28 at the same time last year.

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