Speed and drugs may have been factors in a single-vehicle crash that killed one man and injured three others Saturday morning on Hawaii island, police said.
Police identified the victim as Albert Gonsalves, 18, of Keaau, a passenger in a 2011 Toyota sedan. None of the four occupants, all 18-year-old men, was wearing a seat belt, police said.
The crash occurred at about 4 a.m. near the 9-mile marker on Route 11.
Police said the driver was heading north when he crossed the centerline, ran off the road and crashed into a utility pole and fence.
The driver suffered internal injuries and was treated at Hilo Medical Center. One passenger went into surgery at Hilo Medical Center, and another was flown to the Queen’s Medical Center on Oahu for treatment.
Gonsalves was taken to Hilo Medical Center, where he died at 7:08 a.m.
Police opened cases of negligent homicide, negligent injury, operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant and promoting a detrimental drug.
Anyone with information is asked to call Officer Casey Cabral at 961-8889.
The accident marked Hawaii island’s third traffic fatality this year, compared with one at the same time last year.
Woman accused of assaulting officer
A 29-year-old woman was in custody Sunday accused of assaulting an officer in the Honolulu Police Department cellblock.
Jona Bankhead, of no local address, was charged Saturday with first-degree assault on a law enforcement officer. Her bail was set at $15,000.
Police said Bankhead assaulted a 31-year-old female officer while being processed as a detainee at about 1:30 p.m. Friday.
Coast Guard seeks watercraft operator
The Coast Guard is searching for a possible missing person after an unattended personal watercraft was found Saturday at Kualoa Regional Park.
A HC-130 Hercules aircrew from Air Station Barbers Point searched area waters looking for anyone who may have been aboard the craft.
Anyone with information that might help identify the owner or operator of the craft is asked to contact the Coast Guard at 842-2600.
Department of Land and Natural Resources personnel contacted the Coast Guard at about 5 p.m. after finding the black-and-yellow watercraft, registration number HA1219H, on the beach.
