A 62-year-old North Kohala man died Sunday (October 12, 2008) from injuries he sustained in a motorcycle/motor vehicle crash on Kohala Mountain Road (Route 250) in the area of the 9-mile marker.

Responding to a 2:49 p.m. call, North Kohala patrol and Traffic Enforcement Unit officers determined that the victim was operating a 1979 Honda 500 custom motorcycle and traveling north on Kohala Mountain Road when he failed to negotiate a curve, crossed the centerline and collided with a 1994 Chevrolet pick-up truck traveling south.

The driver of the pick-up truck, a 55-year-old Kapaau man was not injured.

The victim was transported to Kona Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 6:25 p.m.

The victim was not wearing a helmet.

It is unknown at this time if alcohol was involved but speed was a factor in this crash.

The name of the victim is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

Traffic Enforcement Unit officers have initiated a negligent homicide investigation and have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death. 

Police ask anyone with information about this crash to call Officer Marvin Troutman at 326-4646, extension 229.

This is the 20^th traffic fatality on the Big Island this year compared with 31 at this time last year.