Hawaii Island police have identified a 58-year-old Hilo man who died Saturday after he apparently fell off his bicycle and was struck by a semitrailer on Highway 19 in Hilo.
Hawaii Island police have identified a 58-year-old Hilo man who died Saturday after he apparently fell off his bicycle and was struck by a semitrailer on Highway 19 in Hilo.
The bicyclist was identified as Darwin E. Barve, according to the Hawaii County Police Department.
Barve was riding his bicycle northbound on the highway when he apparently hit the sidewalk of a bridge and fell over into the roadway and was then struck by a 1995 International semitrailer that was also traveling north, according to police who responded to the 8:48 a.m. call. The crash occurred about 619 feet north of mile marker 3.
The driver of the truck, a 66-year-old Hilo man, was not injured, according to police.
The bicyclist was taken to Hilo Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 10:48 p.m. Responding Hawaii County Fire Department personnel reported the man had no signs of life when they arrived.
Police said it is unknown at this time if speed, alcohol or drugs were involved with the driver. Officers, however, did detect an odor of alcohol on the bicyclist, 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 this crash should call Officer Tuckloy Aurello at 961-8119.
This is the third traffic fatality on a Big Island public road this year compared with two at this time in 2013.