A Big Island man died Monday after the water tanker he was driving overturned at Keahole Airport.

Hawaii island police said 36-year-old Newton K. Leslie of Honaunau was operating a 2001 Stirling water tanker when it overturned at about 11:35 a.m.

Leslie was not wearing a seat belt and was partially thrown from the passenger door window, police said.

The tanker was carrying a full load of water when police say Leslie lost control on a curve in the roadway and overturned.

The tanker belongs to a construction company doing work at the airport, police said.

Leslie was taken to Kona Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 3:01 p.m.

Police said they believe excessive speed was a factor in the cash.

The accident occurred within the airport on a road not open to the public, so it is not counted toward the official traffic fatality count.