3 people injured in crash near Kawela Bay

A head-on collision on Kamehameha Highway near Kawela Bay sent three people to the hospital Wednesday night, one of them in critical condition.

Police closed the highway while officers investigated the crash, which occurred about 7 p.m.

Paramedics took a man in his 20s, who was a passenger in one vehicle, to a hospital in critical condition with a broken pelvis. A woman, also in her 20s who was in the same vehicle, was also taken to a hospital in serious condition.

The driver of the other vehicle, a 37-year-old man, was transported to a hospital in serious condition, an Emergency Medical Services supervisor said.

Fire Capt. Terry Seelig said firefighters were called at 7:06 p.m. to remove a person from a vehicle, which was done about 7:30 p.m.

Bicyclist dies after being struck by truck

A 20-year-old bicyclist was killed by an apparent intoxicated hit-and-run driver Wednesday morning in Hilo, police said.

Police said a 40-year-old Volcano woman was driving a 2005 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck south on Kinoole Street near Ohea Street when she hit the Hilo man who was riding a bicycle headed in the same direction about 7:30 a.m.

The pickup then struck and severed a utility pole. The woman drove south on Kinoole Street, but was stopped by an off-duty officer at Palai Street.

Firefighters took the man to Hilo Medical Center, where he died at 8:16 a.m.

Police arrested the woman on suspicion of negligent homicide, accident involving death or serious injury, driving under the influence of intoxicants, failure to render aid and driving with a suspended license.

She was being held at the Hilo cellblock.