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Waikoloa fatality 09-02-08 (posted 09-03-08)

Hawaii Police Department
Traffic Enforcement Unit
Sergeant Christopher D. Gali
Phone: 961-2332
September 2, 2008
Report No. C08026686

Media Release

A 55-year-old Waikoloa man died Tuesday (September 2,) from injuries he sustained in a motor vehicle/motorcycle crash at the intersection of Queen Kaahumanu Highway and Mauna Lani Drive in South Kohala.

The victim was identified as Ricardo Pinto of a Waikoloa address.

Responding to a 3:28 p.m. call, South Kohala patrol officers determined that a 66-year-old Hawi man was operating a 1999 Ford pick-up truck and traveling north on Queen Kaahumanu Highway when he made a left turn onto Mauna Lani Drive in front of a 2008 Honda motorcycle traveling south. The Ford truck then struck a 2002 Mazda 4-door sedan, which was in the merge lane and being operated by a 24-year-old Honokaa woman.

Fire Department personnel took the motorcyclist to North Hawaii Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 4:08 p.m.

The motorcyclist was wearing a helmet.

Speed does not appear to be a factor in this crash and it is unknown at this time if alcohol or drugs were involved.

The driver of the truck was arrested for negligent homicide and later released pending further investigation.

Traffic Enforcement Unit officers have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

This is the 18th traffic fatality on the Big Island this year compared with 26 at this time last year.