by Hawaii County Police

A 45-year-old Kawaihae man died Wednesday (June 5) from injuries he received as a passenger in a motor vehicle collision on Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway north of the Palani Intersection in Kailua-Kona.

Responding to an 8:23 p.m. call, Kona patrol officers determined that a 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser, driven by a 44-year-old Kailua-Kona woman, rear ended a 2002 Chevy C7500 boom truck that was stopped in the outside lane with workers changing burnt out street lamps. A 41-year-old Keaʻau man who was standing outside the boom truck and a 53-year-old Hilo man who was inside the raised boom bucket, were not injured.

The car’s driver and his male passenger were both taken by medics to Kona Community Hospital. The driver, who was wearing a seat belt, was being treated for serious injuries. The passenger, who was not wearing a seat belt, was pronounced dead at 9:06 p.m.

The passenger was identified as David Arbon of a Kawaihae address.

Both speed and alcohol appear to be factors in this traffic crash. Traffic Enforcement Unit officers have initiated a negligent homicide investigation and have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

Anyone with information about this crash is asked to call Officer Thomas Koyanagi at 326-4646, extension 229.

This is the 17th traffic fatality on Hawaiʻi Island this year compared with 14 at this time last year.