HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT UNIT
SERGEANT SAMUEL V. JELSMA
PHONE: 961-2332
JULY 15, 1999
G-00493
MEDIA RELEASE
An 18-year-old Kohala man died Thursday night (July 15, 1999) following a one-car accident that occurred on the Kohala Mountain Road (Route 250) near the 20-mile marker.
The victim was identified as Brad Shimono of Honomakau in North Kohala.
Responding to a 7:16 p.m. accident call, police officers determined that the victim was riding the in the back seat of a 1981 Chevrolet Blazer driven by Patrick Medeiros Jr., 18, of Kaauhuhu, North Kohala. The vehicle was heading north on the road when a dog ran onto the roadway and Medeiros swerved to avoid hitting the animal, running off the left shoulder of the road and striking some trees. Shimono was thrown from the vehicle when it overturned and rolled several times on the roadway.
Shimono was taken to the North Kohala Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 8:53 p.m. Medeiros and another passenger in the vehicle, Michael Fong, 26, of Alaalae, North Kohala, were transported to the North Hawaii Community Hospital, where they were confined in stable condition.
The three youths were apparently returning from a hunting trip.
Traffic Enforcement Unit officers have initiated a standard negligent homicide investigation to determine whether speed or alcohol was involved in the accident. They have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.
Shimono’s death was the 16th traffic fatality so far this year, compared to 20 at the same time last year.
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