Police have identified a 75-year-old pedestrian who died after being struck by a pickup truck in a three-vehicle collision Tuesday in Puna as Jerry Decker of Mountain View.
According to police, at about 12:27 p.m. a 2003 Toyota pickup being driven north on Highway 11 by a 42-year-old Mountain View man turned left into the Mountain View Post Office and was struck by a southbound 2017 Ford bus driven by a 30-year-old Kona man. The collision resulted in secondary impacts with an unoccupied 2017 Subaru sedan in the post office parking lot and Decker, who had just walked out of the post office.
The pickup truck driver and Decker were taken to Hilo Medical Center, and Decker was pronounced dead at 2:49 p.m.
The pickup driver was treated and released from the hospital.
Police believe that speed and inattention to driving are contributing factors in the crash.
A negligent homicide investigation has been opened and anyone who may have witnessed the crash is asked to call Officer Clifford Antonio at 961-2329.
Decker’s death is the third official fatality this year compared to five at this time last year.