A 54-year-old Holualoa man died Monday morning after his pickup truck ran off Queen Kaahumanu Highway, struck a utility pole and overturned just south of the Kealakehe Parkway intersection in Kailua-Kona, police said.
The victim was identified as Christopher Allen.
Police responded to a 6:37 a.m. call and determined that Allen had been driving a 2004 Toyota pickup truck north on Queen Kaahumanu Highway when the vehicle ran off the east shoulder of the roadway, struck the pole and overturned in a lava field next to the highway, police said.
Allen was taken to Kona Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 10:48 a.m.
Police said excessive speed and inattention appeared to be factors in this crash.
An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.
This is the 10th traffic fatality on Hawaii island this year, compared with seven at this time last year.
Waimanalo restaurant damaged by fire
A fire caused $60,000 worth of damage to the kitchen of a Waimanalo restaurant Monday morning.
When eight fire companies arrived at the fire scene, they saw black smoke coming from the kitchen of Serg’s Mexican Kitchen Nalo, 41-865 Kalanianaole Highway.
The fire was extinguished at 6:08 a.m.
Fire inspectors classified the cause as accidental, said fire Capt. David Jenkins. The fire was started when an electrical warming appliance was inadvertently left on overnight and ignited nearby combustibles.
Jenkins said there was $40,000 damage to the structure and $20,000 to its contents.
Drowning victim to undergo autopsy
An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death for a 38-year-old California visitor who was brought to shore off Laie Point on Sunday night. He later died at a hospital, police said.
The Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victim as Tupovata Uluave of Mountain View, Calif.
The incident occurred at about 8 p.m.
Emergency Medical Services said two people were in the water at the time. A 26-year-old man also was treated at the scene, but refused transportation to the hospital.
