It was a deadly weekend with two fatal vehicle collisions in East Hawaii.
The first crash, a two-vehicle wreck, killed a man and a woman early Saturday morning near the 24-mile marker of Highway 11 in Volcano.
Officers responding to a 1:14 a.m. report of a traffic collision determined that a blue 2019 Jeep Renegade was Ka‘u bound on Highway 11 when it crossed the centerline and collided head-on with a Hilo-bound white 1996 Toyota Camry driven by a 54-year-old Volcano man.
The driver of the Camry and his 48-year-old woman passenger, also from Volcano, were unresponsive at the scene. They were taken by ambulance to Hilo Benioff Medical Center where they were pronounced dead at 6:38 a.m.
Autopsies have been ordered to determine the exact causes of their deaths.
The Jeep’s driver, a 39-year-old Kona woman, was taken to Hilo Benioff Medical Center and later medivaced to The Queen’s Medical Center on Oahu in stable condition.
The identities of both deceased victims are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
At this time, police think inattention and drugs may be a factor in this collision.
Anyone with information regarding this collision are asked to please contact Officer Laurence Davis at (808) 961-2339 or at Laurence.Davis@hawaiicounty.gov.
These are the 26th and 27th traffic fatalities of 2024 compared to 15 traffic fatalities this same time last year.
In the second crash, a 79-year-old Keaau man died following a single-vehicle collision late Sunday morning in the driveway to a residence in the 15-2700 block of Maiko Street in Pahoa.
The deceased has been identified as George D. Coit.
Officers responding to an 11:55 a.m. call determined that a 50-year-old Keaau man was driving a white 2008 Ford Econoline van and struck Coit in the driveway.
Coit was taken by ambulance to Hilo Benioff Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 3:40 p.m.
The van’s driver wasn’t injured.
At this time, police don’t think alcohol or drugs are factors in the collision.
Police have initiated a negligent homicide investigation. Anyone with information about this collision may contact Officer Johnathan Rapoza at (808) 961-2339 or at Johnathan.Rapoza@hawaiicounty.gov.
Because the collision didn’t occur on a public roadway, Coit’s death doesn’t count as a traffic fatality for official statistical purposes.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com