KAILUA-KONA — A 59-year-old Kailua-Kona man died following a truck and motorized cycle crash Thursday afternoon in North Kona.
KAILUA-KONA — A 59-year-old Kailua-Kona man died following a truck and motorized cycle crash Thursday afternoon in North Kona.
He has been identified as Robert Abeyta, according to the Hawaii Police Department.
Responding to a 3:13 p.m. call, police determined that Abeyta had been traveling north on Highway 190, also known as Mamalahoa Highway, on a motorized cycle when he swerved left into the northbound lane of the highway and was struck by a 2009 GMC pickup truck operated by a 35-year-old Waimea man also traveling north. The collission occurred near mile marker 27.
Abeyta suffered critical injuries from the collision. He was taken to Kona Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 5:40 p.m.
Traffic Enforcement Unit officers have initiated a coroner’s inquest investigation and have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.
Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or who has any information about the crash should call Officer Kimo Keliipaakaua at 326-4646, ext. 229. Those who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.
This is the fourth traffic fatality this year compared with none at this time last year.