An 84-year-old Kailua-Kona man died following a three vehicle collision on Wednesday, February 3, 2021, at the intersection of Kamanu Street and Oluwalu Street in Kailua-Kona. The man has been positively identified as Cornell Bruce Linerud.
Responding to a 12:09 p.m. call, police determined that a light green 2018 Subaru SUV driven by Linerud made a left turn in front of a brown 2015 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck. The Subaru was struck on the passenger side causing the vehicle to spin and subsequently strike a gold colored 2005 Toyota Camry that was stopped at the intersection. Linerud was later transported to the Kona Community Hospital by a privately-owned vehicle for initial treatment. He was later transported to the Queens Medical Center on Oahu where he later died.
The 59-year-old male driver of the Toyota Tacoma and 77-year-old male driver of the Toyota Camry were not seriously injured in the crash.
An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.
A coroner’s inquest investigation has been initiated by the Area II Traffic Enforcement Unit. Police are asking for anyone who may have witnessed the collision to contact Officer Kelsey Kobayashi at (808) 326-4646 ext. 229 or email at Kelsey.kobayashi@hawaiicounty.gov.
This is the fifth traffic fatality this year compared to three at this time last year.