A 58-year-old Hōnaunau man died following a two-vehicle collision on Thursday, February 24, 2022, on an unnamed side road off of the mauka side of Mamalahoa Highway, .1 mile south of the 106 mile marker in South Kona.

The man has been positively identified as Matthew Sean Saxbury.

Responding to a 9:56 a.m. call, police determined that a black 1998 Jeep Wrangler was towing a silver 2015 Dodge Hellcat Challenger, when the Challenger rear ended the Jeep, causing the driver of the Jeep to be ejected from his vehicle.

Saxbury was transported to the Kona Community Hospital where he was later pronounced dead at 2:16 p.m.

The driver of the Dodge Hellcat Challenger, a 66 year-old man from Captain Cook was not injured in the collision.

An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.

The Area II Traffic Enforcement Unit has initiated a negligent homicide investigation and is asking that anyone who may have witnessed the collision to contact Officer Len Hamakado at (808) 326-4646 ext. 229 or email at len.hamakado@hawaiicounty.gov. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.

This is the eighth traffic fatality this year compared to five at this time last year.