A pedestrian is dead and a Kapaau man is in custody after a fatal accident at 1:13 a.m. Sunday in Waimea.
A pedestrian is dead and a Kapaau man is in custody after a fatal accident at 1:13 a.m. Sunday in Waimea.
The victim, a man who remains unidentified, was walking east along the east shoulder of Kawaihae Road when a 2010 Nissan Frontier pickup that was traveling west veered across the highway and struck him near the Door of Faith Church, police said in a press release.
The man suffered critical injuries at the scene and was pronounced dead at 6:20 a.m. at Kona Community Hospital.
Police believe that alcohol and speed were factors in this collision.
BertJim Badua, 27, of Kapaau, was arrested on suspicion of first-degree negligent homicide and driving under the influence of an intoxicant, according to police records. He was released pending further investigation.
An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death and to determine the identity of the unidentified man.
Officers from the Traffic Enforcement Unit have started a negligent homicide investigation and are asking anyone who may have witnessed the crash to call Officer Kimo Keliipaakaua at 326-4646, ext. 229. People who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.
This is the first traffic fatality on a Big Island public roadway this year compared with one at this time last year. A fatality that occurred Jan. 20 in Ocean View is not included toward the count because it occurred on a private roadway.