HILO — Police say a man is dead after he was struck by a pickup truck Wednesday night while riding a bicycle on Kaumana Drive near the intersection of Wiliwili Street in Hilo.
Officers responding to a 9:04 p.m. call determined that a 2008 mauka-bound Dodge pickup truck was within the two-way center median turn lane on Kaumana below Wiliwili Street when it collided with a bicyclist traveling makai on Kaumana Drive. The bike was also within the two-way center median turn lane.
The bicyclist, who was wearing dark clothing, was taken to Hilo Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 10:28 p.m.
The driver of the pickup truck, a 66-year-old Hilo man, wasn’t injured in the crash. He was arrested on suspicion of DUI and first-degree negligent homicide. He’s being held at Hilo police cellblock as the investigation continues.
An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death of the bicyclist, whose identity police haven’t released.
The Traffic Enforcement Unit is conducting the negligent homicide investigation and is asking for anyone who may have witnessed the accident to contact Officer Clifford Antonio at 961-2339 or Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.
This is the 17th official traffic fatality this year compared to 24 at this same time last year.