A 65-year-old Pahoa man died Thursday following a vehicle/motorcycle crash at the intersection of Route 130 and Leilani Avenue in Pahoa.
A 65-year-old Pahoa man died Thursday following a vehicle/motorcycle crash at the intersection of Route 130 and Leilani Avenue in Pahoa.
The victim has been identified as Bo Lozoff of Kalapana, according to the Hawaii Police Department.
Responding to a 3:34 p.m. call, Puna patrol and Traffic Enforcement Unit officers determined that the 65-year-old man was operating a 2003 Suzuki motorcycle and traveling north on Route 130 when a 1999 Lexus multi-purpose vehicle operated by a 66-year-old Pahoa man failed to yield the right of way and made a left turn onto Leilani Avenue, according to police.
The motorcycle operator was not wearing a helmet and was dead at the scene, according to police. He was officially pronounced dead at 9:19 p.m.
The driver of the Lexus was not injured. His wife, a 64-year-old woman, went to the Hilo Medical Center by private vehicle and was treated and released with minor injuries, according to police.
Traffic Enforcement Unit officers have initiated a negligent homicide investigation and have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.
Anyone with information about the crash should call Officer Tuckloy Aurello at 961-8119.
This is the 37th traffic fatality on the Big Island this year compared with 19 at this time last year.