A 50-year-old man died Thursday night in a two-vehicle collision in Pahoa on Hawaii island.
His name has yet to be released, pending notification of next of kin.
Shortly before 7 p.m. a 2004 Ford pickup truck driven by a 74-year-old Pahoa woman was traveling toward Kalapana on Highway 130 with two passengers, according to a police news release.
The pickup driver was making a U-turn when it was struck by a 1998 Ford passenger van driven by a 30-year-old Pahoa man. The van was traveling toward Pahoa with two passengers.
Paramedics transported the 50-year-old man seated in the back seat of the pickup to Hilo Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
The others received minor injuries, including a 7-year-old Pahoa girl who was in the front seat of the van. She was transported to the hospital and flown in stable condition to Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children.
Police arrested the van driver on suspicion of driving under the influence of an intoxicant, driving without a license and driving without insurance. Police said excessive speed was also a factor.
He was taken to Hilo Medical Center and released pending further investigation.
Officers closed a section of the highway between Leilani Boulevard and Malama Street to investigate the crash. Police reopened the roadway at about 4:30 a.m. Friday.
A negligent-homicide investigation is underway. Anyone who witnessed the collision is asked to call police officer Erhard Autrata at 961-8118 or CrimeStoppers at 961-8300.
Hilo man charged in robbery case
A 30-year-old Hilo man has been charged in a bank robbery in Kealakekua.
Russell Monlux was charged Friday with first-degree robbery, second-degree theft and second-degree terroristic threatening, according to a Big Island police news release. His bail has been set at $37,000.
Monlux, slated to make his initial court appearance Monday, was being held in the Kona cellblock.
Officers arrested him Wednesday afternoon at Kona Airport in connection with Tuesday’s robbery at the American Savings Bank branch in Kealakekua.
Moped rider badly hurt in 1-vehicle crash
A 35-year-old Honolulu moped rider was taken in critical condition to a hospital early Friday after he slammed into a utility pole in Kaimuki.
At about 2:30 a.m., police said, the man was traveling east on Maunaloa Avenue when he lost control of his moped, veered into the westbound lane and crashed into a pole before he was thrown from his moped. He was not wearing a helmet.
Police said alcohol was a factor. Excessive speed was not involved.
Police closed lanes in both directions on Maunaloa Avenue between 7th and 8th avenues to investigate. Officers reopened the roadway at about 4:30 a.m.
Police are continuing their investigation.
