A 56-year-old Kona man was killed Tuesday afternoon following a three-vehicle crash in the vicinity Kaloko Light Industrial Area.
A 56-year-old Kona man was killed Tuesday afternoon following a three-vehicle crash in the vicinity Kaloko Light Industrial Area.
The victim has been identified as Robert Pfleger of Holualoa, according to the Hawaii Police Department.
Pleger was operating a 2007 Yamaha motorcycle and headed east on Hina Lani Street when a westbound 2004 Jeep Cherokee operated by 31-year-old Anna Veverko, of Kailua-Kona, turned left onto Kamanu STreet and ran head-on into Pfleger’s motorcycle.
The Jeep then ran head-on into a Ford F-150 pickup truck operated by a 74-year-old man, which was traveling north on Kamanu Street, according to police.
Pfleger, who was wearing a helmet, suffered injuries to his legs and head. He was taken to Kona Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 6:04 p.m. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.
The occupants of the truck and Jeep were not injured.
Vaverko was arrested on suspicion of negligent homicide. She was later released pending further investigation.
The Traffic Enforcement Unit has initiated a negligent homicide investigation and is asking for anyone who witnessed the crash to call Officer Kimo Keliipaakaua or Officer Christopher Kapua-Allison at 326-4646, ext. 229.
Those who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.
This is the seventh traffic fatality this year compared with four at this time last year.