A 53-year-old Oahu man died Friday, four days after a single-vehicle crash on the Daniel K. Inouye Highway.
According to police, Joselito Castillo of Ewa Beach was driving a 2004 Toyota Tacoma east near the 6-mile marker in Hilo on March 8 when the pickup truck hydroplaned in heavy rain, spun, went off the road and ended up in a ditch about 150-feet deep.
Castillo was found unresponsive at the scene, taken to Hilo Medical Center and subsequently to The Queen’s Medical Center on Oahu while still in stable but critical condition. Police were notified that Castillo died Friday.
An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.
The front seat passenger of the pickup truck, a 57-year-old man, was taken Hilo Medical Center for treatment of his injuries and was later released.
Police believe that speed, for the specific roadway conditions, is the primary factor in the outcome of this collision. Police do not believe alcohol or drugs are factors in this investigation.
Police are asking that anyone who may have witnessed the incident to contact Officer Blayne Matsui at 961-2339 or Blayne.Matsui@HawaiiCounty.gov. Those who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.
Castillo’s death the ninth official traffic fatality of 2022 compared to five fatalities during the same time period last year.