72
Hawaii County police identified the 41-year-old man who died Friday in a fuel tanker crash in South Kohala as Amos K. Agliam of Hilo.
Agliam died at the scene. An autopsy has been ordered to determine cause of death.
Alcohol and speed are not considered factors in this collision, police said.
Police said Agliam was driving a 2003 Kenworth tractor pulling a tanker-trailer, which was loaded with 8,402 gallons of diesel fuel. He was traveling west down a steep grade on Highway 19 near the 64-mile marker when the truck ran off the right paved shoulder, continued onto the unpaved shoulder and collided with a large mound of dirt and debris. The trailer broke loose, crushing the cab and rolling onto its right side.
The tanker was punctured, spilling between 1,500 and 2,000 gallons of diesel fuel.
This is the Big Island’s 24th fatality this year, compared with 36 at this time last year.
