Hit-and-Run Leaves 71-Year-Old Man Dead in Kealakekua

A 71-year-old Kealakekua man died Thursday (February 28) from injuries he sustained in a motor vehicle/pedestrian crash on the Hawaii Belt Road (Route 11) and Hokukano Road in Kealakekua.

Responding to a 1:32 a.m. call, Kona patrol officers determined that the pedestrian was walking in a northerly direction on the mauka shoulder of the highway when an unknown vehicle struck him.

The driver of the vehicle fled the scene.

The pedestrian was transported to the Kona Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 3:54 a.m.

Police are looking for a sedan with damage to the front end, hood and possibly the windshield.

Traffic Enforcement Unit officers have initiated a negligent homicide and accident involving death or serious bodily injury cases.

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

The name of the victim is being held pending positive identification and notification of the next of kin.

Anyone with information regarding this crash is asked to call Officer Larry Flowers at 326-4646, extension 229.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.

This is the 9th traffic fatality on the Big Island this year compared to 5 at the same time last year.

 

Big Island Police Looking for Driver of Car that Hit Moped Rider

Media Release:

Big Island police are asking for the public’s help in locating the driver of a vehicle that crashed into a moped in Kona on Sunday (July 17).

Around 8:05 p.m. Sunday, Kona Patrol officers responded to a reported vehicle/moped accident at the intersection of Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway and Kealakehe Parkway. A witness said the vehicle was traveling south on Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway and preparing to turn left onto Kealakehe Parkway when it struck the moped in the intersection and then continued its left turn onto Kealakehe Parkway without stopping.

The operator of the moped sustained severe head injuries and was taken to The Queen’s Medical Center on Oahu, where he is listed in critical condition.

The vehicle is described as possibly a dark-colored pickup truck or sports-utility vehicle. It was last seen heading east on Kealakehe Parkway. It should have some front-end damage and may have a broken or cracked windshield.

Police ask that anyone with information about the vehicle or its operator call Officer Josiah Coe at 326-4646, extension 254, or the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.

Car Found in Hit-and-Run on Highway 11 Police Now Looking for 57 Year Old Captain Cook Man

Media Release:

Thanks to tips from the public, Big Island police have located a vehicle that was involved in a fatal hit-and-run motor vehicle/pedestrian crash on June 10 on the Hawai’i Belt Road (Route 11) .3 miles south of the 108-mile marker in Captain Cook, South Kona.

The 2001 Chevrolet Blazer was found in Captain Cook on Sunday morning (June 12).

The pedestrian, who died at Kona Community Hospital on June 10, has still not been identified. He is described as a local male, 35 to 45 years old, 5-foot-5 to 5-foot-6, 140 to 150 pounds with black short hair, a mustache and beard, and a tattoo—possibly of a dragon—on his right arm. He was wearing a yellow tank top and dark khaki shorts and carrying a maroon California Pak bag.

Traffic Enforcement Unit investigators are looking for a possible witness to the crash, identified as 57-year-old Stanford Omori of Captain Cook or the Nāpo’opo’o area.

Police thank the public for their help in locating the car and ask that anyone with information as to the identity of the pedestrian or the whereabouts of Omori call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.