Police say a 34-year-old Hilo man died from injuries sustained in a two-vehicle crash this morning on Highway 11, south of the 17-mile marker near the Glenwood Transfer Station in Puna.
The victim is identified as Johnathan Hara of Hilo.
Officers responding to a 6:44 a.m. call determined Hara was driving a 2000 Honda two-door sedan in the Volcano direction and attempted to pass a motor vehicle heading the same direction. His car reportedly struck an oncoming 2011 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck driven by a 60-year-old Pahala man.
Hara, the lone occupant of the Honda, was taken to Hilo Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 7:52 a.m.
The driver of the Tacoma was treated at Hilo Medical Center and released with minor injuries. Two passengers, a 59-year-old woman and 25-year-old woman, both of Pahala, remained at the Hilo Medical Center in stable condition.
An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of Hara’s death, which is the 11th official traffic fatality this year, compared to 13 at this time last year.
Potential witnesses are asked to call Officer Blayne Matsui of the Hilo Traffic Enforcement Unit at 961-2339 or Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.