Saddle Road crash victim named

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Police have identified 49-year-old Napoleon Higuera of Hilo as the man who died in a vehicle wreck Saturday on Daniel K. Inouye Highway.

Police have identified 49-year-old Napoleon Higuera of Hilo as the man who died in a vehicle wreck Saturday on Daniel K. Inouye Highway.

This is the 27th traffic fatality this year compared with 23 at this time last year.

The wreck also injured a woman from Mountain View.

Police reports indicated Higuera attempted to pass another vehicle and struck the woman’s vehicle in the oncoming lane.

The crash closed a long section of the highway, also known as Saddle Road, from mile marker 9 southwest of Hilo — where the crash occurred — to the Waikii entrance south of Waimea. The road remained closed for about five hours Saturday.

Police are also asking anyone who witnessed the crash to call Officer Casey Cabral at (808) 961-2329 or email: Casey.Cabral@hawaiicounty.gov. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.