HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT UNIT
ACTING SERGEANT CHRISTOPHER D. GALI
PHONE: 961-2332
JULY 11, 2001
G-73516/PN
MEDIA RELEASE
A 39-year-old Puna man died Wednesday (June 11, 2001) of injuries he received after being involved in a one-vehicle traffic accident the day before in the Hawaiian Paradise Park subdivision of Puna.
The victim was identified as Jacob H. Kauakahi, of Hawaiian Paradise Park.
Responding to a 12:09 p.m. call, Puna police learned that a 16-year-old girl was driving a 1986 Chevrolet pickup truck west on Paradise Drive at 29th Avenue when Kauakahi and a bed mattress fell out of the bed of the truck.
The victim sustained head injuries and was transported by Fire Rescue personnel to the Hilo Medical Center, where he later died of his injuries.
Police have initiated a standard negligent homicide investigation and ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.
Since the accident occurred on a private road, Kauakahi’s death will not be counted in the Big Island traffic fatality total, which remains at 18 so far this year compared to 20 at the same time last year.
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