A 30-year-old Pāhoa man died following a single-vehicle collision on Daniel K. Inouye (DKI) Highway in Hilo that occurred late Thursday evening, February 1, 2024.
Officers responding to the 11:10 p.m. traffic collision determined that a 2003 Toyota sedan traveling east (Hilo bound) on DKI Highway, was overtaking a vehicle at a high rate of speed between the 18- and 19-mile marker, when it lost control on the wet roadway while negotiating a curve, crossing into the west bound shoulder, and rolling over several times.
The 30-year-old male driver was ejected from the vehicle and located unresponsive at the scene. He was transported to Hilo Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 2:41 a.m. on Friday, February 2. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death. The driver was not wearing his seatbelt.
The identity of the driver is being withheld pending positive identification and notification of his next of kin.
His passenger, a 26-year-old man from Kea‘au, was transported to Hilo Medical Center for non-life-threatening injuries and is listed in stable condition.
Police believe that speed is a factor in the crash.
The Area I Traffic Enforcement Unit has initiated a coroner’s inquest investigation and is asking for anyone who may have witnessed the collision to contact Officer Jerome Duarte at (808) 961-2339 or via email at Jerome.Duarte@hawaiicounty.gov. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.
This is the fourth traffic fatality of 2024 as compared to two traffic fatalities this same time last year.