Police are investigating a missing 48-year-old Puna man who allegedly illegally entered a lava evacuation zone.
Police are investigating a missing 48-year-old Puna man who allegedly illegally entered a lava evacuation zone.
Authorities identify the man as Mark Lawrence Kramer. Kramer is described as 5 feet 9 inches tall, 160 pounds, with a medium build and wavy shoulder-length hair.
According to a written statement, police received a report Tuesday that Kramer had circumvented roadblocks on Highway 137 to enter the evacuated Kapoho area the day before. He was reportedly trying to bring supplies to a friend who remained behind when the area was evacuated.
It was reported that Kramer’s last contact was during a phone call in which he said he was lost on a hardened lava flow. The communication ended when his battery died, and Kramer reportedly never reached the residence within the evacuated area.
Kramer has not been heard from since. The Hawaii Fire Department has conducted an overflight of the area and didn’t find him.
Police say Kramer also has an outstanding warrant for his arrest, but didn’t specify the charges.
Anyone with information is asked to call the police nonemergency line at 935-3311 or Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.
Police remind the public that evacuated lava zones remain dangerous and that roadblocks have been established for public safety and should not be circumvented.
