A 48-year-old Waimea man died early this week after crashing an all-terrain vehicle.
A 48-year-old Waimea man died early this week after crashing an all-terrain vehicle.
He was identified as Willard Rapoza Jr.
Sometime between 10 a.m. and noon Sunday, Rapoza left home on an ATV and failed to return home. At 1:25 p.m. Monday, relatives found him unresponsive and trapped beneath the ATV on a trail on private property located off Fire Road 15 in Waimea.
He was officially pronounced dead at Kona Community Hospital at 7:30 p.m. Monday.
Because this crash was on private property, it’s not counted as a traffic fatality for official statistical purposes.
Anyone with information is asked to call the police non-emergency line at 935-3311 or Officer Kimo Keliipaakaua at 326-4545, ext. 229. Those who prefer anonymity may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.