Three motorcycle crashes in three hours leave one dead, two injured
Hawaii Island police are investigating three motorcycle crashes that within a three-hour period Monday morning on Hawaii Island roadways.
One of the motorcyclists was killed and the two other motorcyclists were seriously injured, according to the Hawaii Police Department.
The first crash, which involved a motorcycle and a Honda sedan, occurred about 7:26 a.m. Monday on Highway 19, near its intersection of Hau Street, just north of Hilo.
Investigators determined the two vehicles were heading north on the highway when the sedan made a U-turn in front of the motorcycle. The motorcycle struck the sedan broadside. The operator of the motorcycle was not wearing a helmet.
The motorcyclist was taken to Hilo Medical Center where he was pronounced dead around 8:14 a.m.
Police said the victim’s identity remains unknown at this time.
The driver of the sedan, a 63-year-old woman, was transported to Hilo Medical Center for minor head injuries and later released.
Authorities believe inattention may have caused the crash, but have not yet ruled out alcohol or drugs as contributing factors pending further testing and investigation into the incident.
The death is the 18th fatal traffic crash 2022 compared to 11 fatal traffic crashes during the same time period last year.
Minutes after the fatal motorcycle crash in East Hawaii, a two-vehicle crash occurred in West Hawaii, severely injuring a 57-year-old Kailua-Kona man operating a motorcycle on Kaiminani Drive.
Responding to a 7:42 a.m. report, police determined that a white 1998 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck was heading west (makai) in the shoulder of the roadway when it began to merge back into the westbound lane near the intersection of Kaiminani Drive and Ili Ili Street. As the pickup truck entered the westbound lane, it was struck by a black 2001 Harley-Davidson motorcycle operated by a Kailua-Kona man.
The motorcyclist, who was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, was transported to the Kona Community Hospital where he was listed in critical condition as of press-time.
The 61-year-old man driving the pickup truck was not injured.
Second Hilo Motorcycle Collision
Three hours later, at 10:23 a.m., a third crash was reported after a motorcyclist apparently struck a van that was stopped at the intersection of Mamaki Street and Highway 11 in Hilo.
The motorcyclist, a 28-year-old Hilo man who was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, was taken to the Hilo Medical Center in critical condition. He was later upgraded to stable condition and remained hospitalized Monday evening.
The van was operated by a 48-year-old man from Tuscon, Arizona, traveling with his family. None of the van’s occupants were injured in the incident. Police are investigating this collision as a negligent injury.
Anyone with information on the Hilo fatality should contact Officer Jerome Duarte at (808) 961-2339 or via email Jerome.Duarte@HawaiiCounty.gov.
Anyone who may have witnessed the Kaiminani Drive crash should contact Officer Adam Roberg at (808) 326-4646, ext. 229, or email at adam.roberg@hawaiicounty.gov.
Those who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at (808) 961-8300.
