2 Hawaii island drivers die in separate accidents

Traffic accidents on Hawaii island since Wednesday claimed the lives of two residents, one from Kurtistown and another from Kealakekua.

A 39-year-old Kurtistown man died in an early morning accident Thursday when the car he was driving overturned on Highway 11, ejecting him from the vehicle.

The crash occurred at about 12:40 a.m between the 48- and 49-mile markers, Kau police said.

Police said they believe the driver was speeding, and he was not wearing a seat belt.

The man was driving a 1987 Ford sedan south on Highway 11 when the car went off the left side of the road and overturned, police said. He was taken to Kona Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 6:19 a.m.

The name of the victim was being withheld pending positive identification. An autopsy was ordered to determine the cause of death.

A 21-year-old Kealakekua man also died Thursday when the station wagon he was driving overturned after rear-ending a mo-ped at Kealakehe Parkway and Ane Keahokalole Highway on Wednesday.

The name of the victim is being withheld pending identification.

Kona police said alcohol was a factor in the crash and have opened a negligent homicide investigation. An autopsy will be conducted.

Both the victim and the mo-ped driver were taken to Kona Community Hospital. The mo-ped driver was treated for his injuries and released. The driver of the station wagon was flown to the Queen’s Medical Center in Hono­lulu where he died Thursday at 4:10 a.m.

Kona police said the victim was driving a 1995 Honda station wagon and traveling east on Kealakehe Parkway just before 8 a.m. Wednesday when his car struck the mo-ped. The car swerved to the right and struck a fire hydrant, light pole and sign before overturning.

He was not wearing a seat belt.

Police ask that anyone with information on either crash call officer Thomas Koya­nagi at 326-4646, ext. 229.

These are the 22nd and 23rd traffic fatalities on the island this year, compared with 15 at this time last year.