Hawaii Island police are searching for the driver of an unknown vehicle involved in a fatal hit-and-run collision in Ka‘u early Sunday morning, in which a 25-year-old Kealakekua man died, according to reports. The collision took place on Mamalahoa Highway (Highway 11), near the intersection of Kaalualu Road in Naalehu.
The pedestrian has been positively identified as Kevin Adonay Catellanos-Rodriguez.
Responding to a 3:59 a.m. call, police investigators determined that an unknown vehicle, possibly a pickup truck or SUV-type vehicle, struck Catellanos-Rodriguez. He was possibly in the middle of the northbound (Kona) lane. According to police, after striking the pedestrian, the unknown vehicle then fled the area in an unknown direction. Catellanos-Rodriguez was transported to the Kona Community Hospital where he was later pronounced dead at 10:28 a.m.
Failure to render aid when a person is injured or killed in a traffic collision is a Class B felony that may be punishable by up to 10 years in prison and fines up to $25,000.
The Area II Traffic Enforcement Unit has initiated a negligent homicide investigation and is asking for anyone who may have witnessed the collision to contact Officer Dayson Taniguchi at (808) 326-4646, ext. 229, or email at dayson.taniguchi@hawaiicounty.gov. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.
This is the fifth traffic fatality this year compared to two at this time last year.