A 15-year-old Honokaa boy is dead after losing control of a motorcycle Monday afternoon in Honokaa, police said.
A 15-year-old Honokaa boy is dead after losing control of a motorcycle Monday afternoon in Honokaa, police said.
He was identified as Aukai Ahuna.
Officers responding to a 3:01 p.m. call determined Ahuna was riding the Suzuki dirt bike north on Pikake Street approaching the Ohia Street intersection when he lost control of the motorcycle, was thrown and struck by a 2006 Ford truck.
Ahuna was taken to the North Hawaii Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 3:51 p.m.
The driver of the truck, a 47-year old Honokaa man, was not injured.
The boy was wearing a helmet and speed appears to be a factor in this investigation, police said. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.
Police have initiated a negligent homicide investigation.
Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to call Officer Casey Cabral at 961-8889 or Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.
Ahuna’s death is the 10th official traffic fatality this year, the same number as this time last year. There have also been three vehicle-related fatalities police don’t count toward the official total, two because they occurred on private property, and the third, in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.