A 22-year-old Kailua-Kona man was killed Sunday when he was thrown from his motorcycle after failing to make a turn near near the 22-mile marker of Mamalahoa Highway and hitting a rock embankment.

Big Island police identified the driver as Jonathan Salinas.

Police said Salinas was speeding and not paying attention while driving a 2009 Yamaha motorcycle and traveling south on the highway at 9:43 a.m.

When when he failed to make a turn in the roadway, Salinas ran off onto the east shoulder of the roadway and into a rock embankment. The impact caused Salinas to be ejected from the motorcycle. He was taken to Kona Community Hospital with head injuries, where he died.

An autopsy has been ordered to determine the cause of death.

Police are asking anyone who witnessed the crash to call Officer Justin Hooser at 326-4646, extension 229. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.

This is the ninth traffic fatality this year compared with seven at this time last year.