Police said Kurt T. Okada, 47, of Waimea, was the victim in Satuday’s fatal traffic crash on Kaiminani Drive.
Police said Kurt T. Okada, 47, of Waimea, was the victim in Satuday’s fatal traffic crash on Kaiminani Drive.
Police said Okada was operating a 1992 Kenworth dump truck and traveling west on Kaiminani Drive when he lost control, ran off the right side of the road, struck two parked cars, a rock wall, utility boxes and a tree. The vehicle then caught on fire and also ignited the tree.
Okada was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the truck. He was taken to Kona Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 4 p.m. Saturday.
It is unknown at this time if alcohol or drugs were involved but police said speed was a factor in the crash.
Anyone with information about this crash is asked to call Officer Thomas Koyanagi at 326-4646, ext. 229.
This is the 16th traffic fatality on Hawaii Island this year compared with 14 at the same time last year.