Police ID woman killed in Hilo motorcycle/pedestrian crash

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HILO — Big Island police on Tuesday identified the 61-year-old Hilo woman who was one of two people killed Saturday in a pedestrian/motorcycle crash in Hilo.

HILO — Big Island police on Tuesday identified the 61-year-old Hilo woman who was one of two people killed Saturday in a pedestrian/motorcycle crash in Hilo.

The woman has been identified as Rhonda Broad, according to the Hawaii Police Department.

Responding to a 7:25 p.m. Saturday call, Hilo patrol officers determined that Broad exited an unknown vehicle near the intersection of Railroad Avenue and Makalika Street. The vehicle left the area and Broad, who walked in the north-bound lane, was struck by a motorcycle traveling north on Railroad Avenue.

The operator of the motorcycle was identified as Lionel Chartrand of Hilo. He was taken to Hilo Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 10:52 p.m. Saturday.

Broad was pronounced dead at 10:55 p.m. Saturday.

Chartrand was not wearing a helmet and police believe that speed was a factor in the crash.

Traffic Enforcement Unit officers have initiated a negligent homicide investigation for Broad and a coroner’s inquest investigation for Chartrand. They have ordered autopsies to determine the exact causes of death.

Officers want to question the occupants of the vehicle that Broad exited.

Anyone with information about this case should call the department’s nonemergency line at 935-3311 or contact Officer Erhard Autrata at 961-8118 or Erhard.Autrata@hawaiicounty.gov. Those who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.

The two deaths mark the 18th and 19th traffic fatalities on Hawaii Island public roads compared with 15 at this time in 2015.