A 71-year-old Kealakekua man was killed early Thursday morning by a hit-and-run driver on the Hawaii Belt and Hokukano roads in Kona.

He was identified as Francisco Asuncion.

Kona police said the pedestrian was walking in a northerly direction on the mauka shoulder of the highway when a vehicle struck him at 1:32 a.m.

 The driver of the vehicle fled the scene. The name of the victim is being held pending positive identification and notification of the next of kin.

The pedestrian was transported to the Kona Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 3:54 a.m.

Police are looking for a dark colored Nissan sedan. The vehicle should have damages to the front bumper, hood, and possibly the windshield, police said.

Anyone with information regarding this crash is asked to call officer Larry Flowers at 326-4646, extension 229. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call CrimeStoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona.

This is the ninth traffic fatality on the Big Island this year compared to five at the same time last year.