Speed and alcohol are believed to be factors in a crash involving a motorcyclist and a pickup that killed both drivers Friday night in South Kona.
Hawaii island police on Saturday identified the motorcyclist as Toby H. Ledward, 40, of Kona, and the pickup driver as Glennard A. Sadumiano, 33, of Kealakekua.
Police said Ledward was heading south on Route 11 on a 1994 Honda motorcycle about 9:13 p.m. when he came up behind Sadumiano in a 2005 Chevrolet pickup.
The motorcycle crossed the centerline, apparently in an attempt to pass the pickup, when Sadumiano turned left at Kalamalani Place.
The motorcycle hit the driver’s side of the pickup, police said.
Firefighters said Ledward was found with no signs of life in the middle of the highway. He was pronounced dead at Kona Community Hospital at 11:40 p.m.
Sadumiano was trapped in his truck about 50 feet off the highway. Police said firefighters took him to Kona hospital, where he died at 9:38 p.m.
Police said Ledward was speeding and that alcohol may have been involved.
Autopsies have been requested.
Police said Ledward was not wearing a helmet and Sadumiano was not wearing a seat belt.
Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call officer Joshua Lewis at 326-4646, ext. 229.
The crash pushed Hawaii island’s traffic fatalities to 18 this year, compared with 12 at this time last year.
Also on Hawaii island Friday, a 41-year-old man was in critical condition after crashing his motorcycle into an oncoming car in Waikoloa, firefighters said.
Firefighters were sent to the crash on Highway 190 near the 17-mile marker about 9:50 p.m. and found the motorcyclist on the road unconscious.
Witnesses said the motorcyclist lost control and hit the car. Firefighters took the man to North Hawaii Hospital in critical condition. The man was later flown to the Queen’s Medical Center, firefighters said.
The driver of the car did not require an ambulance.
