UPDATE: The 19 year old who died in the following crash has been identified by police as Wyland K.B. Damaso of Waikoloa.
SOURCE: Hawaii County Police Department
A 19-year-old Waikoloa man died Tuesday (August 7) from injuries he sustained in a two-vehicle crash on Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway 200 feet south of Kaiminani Drive on July 30.
Responding to a 10:43 a.m. call, Kona patrol officers determined that the Waikoloa man was operating a 2012 Ford four-door sedan and traveling north on the Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway when he crossed the centerline and collided with a 2001 Isuzu van being operated by a 54-year-old Kailua-Kona man.
Both men were wearing their seat belts. It is unknown at this time if speed, alcohol or drugs were involved.
Fire Rescue personnel took the Waikoloa man to Kona Community Hospital. He was later flown to The Queen’s Medical Center.
The Kailua-Kona man was treated and released from Kona Community Hospital.
The Waikoloa man died at Queen’s at 4:43 p.m. Tuesday (August 7). His name is being withheld pending notification of the next of kin.
Traffic Enforcement Unit officers have initiated a negligent homicide investigation.
This is the 24th traffic fatality on the Big Island this year compared with 15 at the same time last year.
The stretch of Hwy between the Industrial area and the Resorts needs to be split lanes! Two lanes in each direction ( 4 lanes total) with about 50 yds of lava rock (buffer) between each direction of Hwy. Railings can also be installed on the inside of each direction to help prevent cars from driving into the lava rock buffer. This configuration drastically reduces the chances of head-on collisions (the most fatal type of auto accident). It would also create jobs. BTW, interstates on the mainland are designed in such a way.
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