Hawai‘i Island police are investigating a single-vehicle traffic collision in Puna that resulted in the death of a Kailua-Kona man. The collision occurred on Thursday, May 5, 2022, on Kahakai Boulevard, in the Hawaiian Beaches area of Pahoa.

Responding to the 3:27 p.m. report of a collision, police investigators determined that a 2008 Honda Civic sedan left a nearby driveway and proceeded down (east) Kahakai Boulevard. The Honda Civic then crossed to the north side of the roadway and struck a mailbox and chain-link fence of a residence before coming to a stop. At the time of the collision, the roadway was wet and it had been raining off and on.

The operator of the sedan, 31-year-old Ashton Martines, of Kailua Kona, was unresponsive at the scene and transported to Hilo Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead at 4:51 p.m. An autopsy has been requested to determine the exact cause of death.

The front seat passenger of the sedan, a 30-year-old man, did not receive any injuries as a result of the traffic collision.

The East Hawaii Traffic Enforcement Unit is conducting further investigation relative to any contributing factors and has initiated a coroner’s inquest investigation, which is pending.

Police are asking for anyone who may have witnessed the collision to contact Officer Blayne Matsui at (808) 961-2339 or via email Blayne.Matsui@HawaiiCounty.gov. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.

This is the 14th fatal traffic collision of 2022 compared to 8 fatal traffic collisions during this same time period last year.