Media release by Hawaii County Police

A 71-year-old Kealakekua man died Thursday (February 28) from injuries he sustained in a motor vehicle/pedestrian crash on the Hawaii Belt Road (Route 11) and Hokukano Road in Kealakekua.

Responding to a 1:32 a.m. call, Kona patrol officers determined that the pedestrian was walking in a northerly direction on the mauka shoulder of the highway when an unknown vehicle struck him.

The driver of the vehicle fled the scene.

The pedestrian was transported to the Kona Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 3:54 a.m.

Police are looking for a sedan with damage to the front end, hood and possibly the windshield.

Traffic Enforcement Unit officers have initiated a negligent homicide and accident involving death or serious bodily injury cases.

An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.

The name of the victim is being held pending positive identification and notification of the next of kin.

Anyone with information regarding this crash is asked to call Officer Larry Flowers at 326-4646, extension 229.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.

This is the 9th traffic fatality on the Big Island this year compared to 5 at the same time last year.