Responding to a 11:41 a.m. call, North Hilo patrol officers determined that the man was operating a 4-door station wagon and traveling south on Liloa Road when he lost control and ran off the left side of the road.

The vehicle caught on fire and the driver was unable to escape. Fire Department personnel extinguished the fire.

Barton was taken to Hilo Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 6:01 p.m.