By CHELSEA JENSEN
Stephens Media
A third fatal wreck in less than 36 hours claimed another two lives late Friday following a collision between a motorcycle and a pickup truck on Highway 11 south of Captain Cook.
Capping off the deadly night, a 41-year-old motorcyclist was transported in critical condition to North Hawaii Community Hospital and later flown to Honolulu after he collided head-on with an oncoming car on Highway 190, north of Puuanahulu.
The deaths bring the total number of people killed on public roadways this year to 18, up 50 percent when compared with the 12 recorded fatalities at this point last year, according to Hawaii Police Department data. The South Kona fatalities follow separate Thursday afternoon crashes in North Kohala and North Kona that killed two West Hawaii men.
Police have identified the men killed in the Friday night crash as 40-year-old Toby H. Ledward, of Kailua-Kona, and 33-year-old Clennard A. Sadumiano, of Kealakekua, according to police.
Around 9:15 p.m., Ledward was operating a southbound 1994 Honda motorcycle when he crossed Highway 11’s center line and collided with a southbound 2005 Chevrolet pickup truck making a left turn onto Kalamalani Place, south of mile marker 109, according to police.
According to Hawaii Fire Department officials, Ledward struck the truck’s driver side door and was found lying in the middle of the highway, with no signs of life. Sadumiano was pinned in his truck, which came to a stop about 50 feet off the roadway on private property.
Captain Cook Fire Station Capt. Winston Takamoto said fire rescue personnel extricated Sadumiano and transported him to Kona Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead about a half-hour after the accident was reported. Ledward was also taken the hospital and died at 11:40 p.m.
Ledward was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, according to police. Sadumiano was not wearing a seat belt.
A third vehicle, a 1991 Toyota pickup truck parked on the private property, sustained minor damage, according to police. No other injuries were reported.
Highway 11 was closed for several hours following the crash. Traffic was detoured via Keei and Napoopoo roads, according to police.
Police suspect alcohol may have contributed to the crash. They also said the motorcyclist was speeding when the crash occurred.
Negligent homicide and coroner’s inquest cases have been initiated. Police have ordered autopsies to determine the exact causes of death.
In the Puuanahulu crash, Waikoloa Fire Station Capt. Lyle Loyola said fire rescue personnel responded shortly before 10 p.m. to a report of a man found unresponsive on Highway 190. The 41-year-old man had apparently lost control of his motorcycle and collided head-on with an oncoming car near mile marker 17, according to the fire department.
The man, who was wearing a helmet, was found some distance from his bike, Loyola said.
Medics transported the man in critical condition to North Hawaii Community Hospital, he said. He was later flown to the Queen’s Medical Center on Oahu.
Highway 190, between Waikoloa Road and Kaiminani Drive, was closed for about two hours while personnel remained on the scene, according to police.
Anyone with information on the Highway 11 crash is asked to call Officer Joshua Lewis at 326-4646, ext. 229.
Email Chelsea Jensen at cjensen@westhawaiitoday.com.
