SOURCE: Hawaii County Police Department

A 65-year-old Hawi man died Tuesday (September 4) from injuries he sustained in a motorcycle crash Monday (September 3) on Akoni Pule Highway, 1 mile west of Pololu Loop in North Kohala.

The man was identified as James R. Wright of a Hawi address.

Responding to a 1:21 p.m. call, North Kohala patrol officers determined that the motorcyclist was traveling east on Akoni Pule Highway when he crossed the centerline and ran off the left side of the road, hitting a tree.

Wright and his female passenger, a 49-year-old Hawi woman, were taken to North Hawaii Community Hospital. Both were later flown to The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu.

Wright died Tuesday at 10:59 p.m.

It is unknown at this time if speed, alcohol or drugs were factors in this crash.

Traffic Enforcement Unit officers have initiated a coroner’s inquest case and have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

This is the 26th traffic fatality on the Big Island this year compared with 15 at this time last year.