A 17-year-old boy from Pāhoa died Wednesday (January 20) from injuries he sustained in a two vehicle crash the night before on Kahakai Boulevard, .2 miles north of Punawai Street in Hawaiian Beaches.

Responding to a 6:53 p.m. call (January 19), Puna patrol officers determined that a 74-year-old Pāhoa man was operating a 2009 Dodge pick-up truck and traveling east on Kahakai Boulevard when he crossed the centerline and collided with a 1989 Subaru two-door sedan traveling east.

Both drivers were transported by Fire Rescue personnel to the Hilo Medical Center.

The 17-year-old boy was flown to the Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu where he died this morning at 2:02 a.m.

Two passengers in the pick-up truck, a 19-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy, both of Pāhoa were not injured.

It is unknown at this time if alcohol or drugs were involved but speed was a factor in this crash.

The name of the victim is being withheld pending notification of the next of kin.

Traffic Enforcement Unit officers have initiated a negligent homicide investigation and have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

Anyone with information regarding this crash is asked to call Officer Clarence Davies at 961-8118.

This is the 5th traffic fatality on the Big Island this year compared to one at the same time last year.