A 15-year-old boy was killed Monday in a three-vehicle crash in Pepe‘ekeo.
According to a Hawaii Police Department report, a 1996 Honda Civic heading toward Hilo on Highway 19 near the 12 mile marker attempted to overtake another vehicle at about 6:09 p.m. Monday but lost control on wet asphalt, spinning into the northbound lane and colliding with a 2002 Chevrolet pickup truck. Debris from the collision struck a third vehicle, a southbound 2005 Toyota Solara, which was traveling behind the Civic.
The Civic’s driver, 20-year-old Tyson Acacio, and a rear passenger, 15-year-old Zion Hao-Kallio, of Ocean View, were ejected from the vehicle. Hao-Kallio was unresponsive at the scene and was transported to Hilo Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 9:12 p.m.
Acacio was transported to Hilo Medical Center with serious internal injuries. Another passenger in the Civic, a 16-year-old girl, was wearing a seatbelt and sustained only minor injuries.
The driver of the Chevrolet, a 40-year-old woman, sustained minor injuries including a broken heel, and was treated at the Hilo Medical Center. The driver of the Solara was uninjured.
A negligent homicide investigation is underway, and police are asking for any witnesses of the incident to contact Officer Jerome Duarte at (808) 961-2339 or via email Jerome.Duarte@HawaiiCounty.gov. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.
This is the 25th fatal collision on the island this year.