UPDATE: Police have identified the driver who was killed as 27-year-old Andrew Charles Clark of Honokaa.
A 27-year-old man died this morning after a fiery pickup truck rollover Thursday night near Puuanahulu in North Kona.
According to police, the man was heading toward Waimea on Mamalahoa Highway (Route 190) in a gray 1999 Toyota Tacoma shortly before 9 p.m. when he failed to negotiate a curve just south of the 17-mile marker and crossed over double-solid yellow lines. The truck then struck a rock embankment, overturned in a lava field and caught on fire.
The driver was taken to Kona Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 1:16 a.m. Police have not released the man’s identity pending notification of next of kin.
The highway was closed for about four hours as police investigated.
Police believe that speed is a factor in the crash. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.
This is the 12th traffic fatality this year compared to seven at this time last year.
Witnesses are asked to contact Officer Adam Roberg at (808) 326-4646, ext. 229 or adam.roberg@hawaiicounty.gov. Those who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.