Hawaii island police closed a stretch of Queen Kaahumanu Highway, between Puako Beach Drive and the entrance to the Mauna Lani Resort on the Kohala Coast, at midday while officers investigated a fatal traffic collision near Puako Beach Drive. 

At about 11:25 a.m., officers responded to the collision and learned that a 52-year-old man traveling south in a 1997 Ford F-250 pickup truck had reportedly crossed the centerline and struck a 2013 Dodge Dart traveling in the opposite direction. 

The pickup truck’s driver, who was the sole occupant in the vehicle, was taken to North Hawaii Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. 

The driver of the other vehicle — a 62-year-old man visiting from Canada — and three passengers in the car were not injured in the collision. 

At about 1:15 p.m., one closed lane was reopened on the highway. The other lane remains close. 

Police have initiated a negligent homicide investigation.