Big Island police are asking the public’s help identifying a man who died early Wednesday after he was struck by a vehicle while walking along Highway 11 in Puna.
Big Island police are asking the public’s help identifying a man who died early Wednesday after he was struck by a vehicle while walking along Highway 11 in Puna.
The man was apparently walking on the roadway when he was struck shortly after 3 a.m. by a 2013 Toyota pickup truck traveling south on Highway 11 near mile marker 18 in Glenwood, according to the Hawaii Police Department. The pedestrian was taken to Hilo Medical Center where he died at 4:28 a.m.
The driver of the truck was not injured, according to police.
The pedestrian, who carried no identification, is described as being Caucasian, in his late 20s to early 30s, is 5-feet-9 to 5-feet-10, weighing about 180 pounds with long black hair, a beard and mustache, according to police.
Police do not suspect that speed, alcohol or drugs were involved. 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 on the crash should call Officer Tuckloy Aurello at 961-8119 or the department’s nonemergency line at 935-3311. Those who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 329-8181 in Kona or 961-8300 in Hilo. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.
This is the 12th traffic fatality on Big Island public roads this year compared to 11 at the same time last year, according to police.