One man is dead and another in police custody following a fiery two-vehicle collision Sunday night on Highway 130 in Hawaiian Paradise Park.
According to police, officers responding to an 8:41 p.m. call, police determined that a 2003 Mazda sedan was traveling south on Highway 130 at the Shower Drive/Pohaku Drive intersection when it rear-ended a 1990 Toyota pickup.
The driver of the pickup truck, according to a written Fire Deparment statement, was dead at the scene. He was officially pronounced dead at 1:58 a.m. at Hilo Medical Center.
Police are withholding his name pending positive identification and notification of his family. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.
According to police, the driver of the sedan, 26-year-old Keempe Drequito of Keaau, fled the scene on foot. He was located and arrested a short time later on suspicion of negligent homicide, reckless driving, leaving the scene of a fatal accident and DUI.
He’s being held at the Hilo police cellblock while Traffic Enforcement Unit officers continue to investigate.
Traffic was tied up for hours on Highway 130, the main artery to and from lower Puna. Police sent a message at 4:17 a.m. saying the road was reopened.
This is the 12th traffic fatality this year compared to 10 at this time last year.
Police ask anyone who witnessed the crash to call Officer Erhard Autrata at 961-8118. Those who prefer anonymity may call the island-wide Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.
The collision was the second fatal crash on Mother’s Day.
Shortly before 7:30 a.m. Sunday, a 36-year-old soldier from Schofield Barracks was killed when a westbound military transport tractor-trailer vehicle hauling heavy machinery failed to negotiate a left turn from Daniel K. Inouye Highway (Saddle Road) onto Mamalahoa Highway (Highway 190). The truck then struck the southbound lane guardrail and overturned into a culvert.
The victim, who was the front-seat passenger in the truck, was taken to Kona Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 12:35 p.m.
The driver was treated for non-life-threatening injuries at North Hawaii Community Hospital.
A negligent homicide investigation has been opened.
Anyone who witnessed the crash to is asked to call Officer Christopher Kapua-Allison at 326-4646, ext. 229. Those who prefer anonymity may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
