Police say a 34-year-old Kailua-Kona man died after a bizarre traffic accident Thursday on Manawalea Street in Kailua-Kona.
He has been identified as Nicholas Ashton Catlett.
Officers responding to a 9:58 a.m. call, determined that a 55-year-old Kailua-Kona woman was driving a maroon 2003 Mazda B2300 pickup truck with a high-top camper shell while transporting a mattress on the camper shell roof, with Catlett standing on the rear bumper and holding on to the mattress, which was tied to the camper shell. Police say Catlett lost his grip, fell onto the roadway and struck his head.
Catlett was taken to Kona Community Hospital in critical condition. He was pronounced dead at 10:04 a.m. today.
Police don’t think speed is a factor and an autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.
Anyone who may have witnessed the incident is asked to call Kona Traffic Enforcement Unit at 326-4646, ext. 229, or Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo.
Catlett’s death is the 19th official traffic fatality this year comparted to 27 at this time last year.