HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT UNIT
SERGEANT LEROY VICTORINO
PHONE: 961-2332
OCTOBER 8, 2003
H-66186
MEDIA RELEASE
Two men were killed and another was seriously injured Tuesday evening (October 7, 2003) of injuries received in a single-car collision on Hawaii Belt Road (Route 190) at Puuanahulu in North Kona near the 22-mile marker.
Responding to a 9:39 p.m. call, police determined that a vehicle traveling south on Mamalahoa ran off the road, struck a rock embankment and overturned, ejecting two passengers.
Two of the victims were taken to the Kona community Hospital, where they were pronounced dead at 1 a.m. The third was transported by helicopter to the North Hawaii Community Hospital and then flown to Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu.
The names of the victims are being withheld pending notification of family members.
Traffic Enforcement Unit officers are conducting an investigation into the traffic deaths.
Police believe that high speed and alcohol are factors in this crash and are asking anyone with information about the case to call TEU Officer Bradley Freitas at 326-4277 in Kona, TEU Sergeant Leroy Victorino at 961-2332 in Hilo or the police non-emergency number at 935-3311.
Tuesday’s deaths were the 26th and 27th traffic fatalities on the Big Island so far this year, compared to 19 at the same time last year.
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