Police are investigating a two-vehicle traffic collision on Thursday evening that resulted in a motorcyclist being critically injured. The collision occurred at the intersection of Mamalahoa Highway, (Hwy. 19), and Hau Street in the Wainaku area of Hilo.
Officers responding to an 8:28 p.m. report determined that a 2013 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck turned left from Hau Street onto Highway 19, causing a Hilo-bound 2005 Honda motorcycle to collide with the rear driver’s side of the truck. At the time of the collision, it was raining and the roadway was wet.
The motorcyclist, a 39-year-old man, was initially taken to Hilo Medical Center and later airlifted to The Queen’s Medical Center on Oahu, in critical but stable condition.
The driver of the pickup truck, a 47-year-old Joshua Greg Manzano-Hill of Hilo wasn’t injured. Manzano-Hill was arrested and booked on suspicion of DUI, first-degree negligent injury and third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, according to a police log. The log doesn’t indicate whether or not those charges were filed.
Police are asking witnesses to contact Officer Jared Cabatu at (808) 961-2339 or Jared.Cabatu@HawaiiCounty.gov.