A 51-year-old Waikoloa man died after a collision of two pickup trucks Friday night in Kailua-Kona.
He has been identified as Raymond Mata Jr.
Officers responding to a 9:55 p.m. call determined a brown 2015 Toyota pickup driven by a 38-year-old Keauhou woman was heading south on Alii Drive when it was rear-ended by a tan 1999 Toyota pickup truck being driven by Mata, who was also traveling south.
Mata’s truck then hit a utility pole and a stone wall. Mata, who was unresponsive at the scene, was taken to Kona Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1:21 a.m. Saturday.
Police believe that inattention and speed were factors in this collision, but it is not immediately known if alcohol was a factor.
An autopsy has been ordered.
Witnesses are asked to contact Officer Justin Hooser at (808) 326-4646 ext. 229.
Mata’s death is the 24th official traffic fatality this year compared to 26 at this time last year.