POLICE/FIRE
High speed cited as factor in fatal Big Island crash

By Hugh Clark
Advertiser Big Island Bureau

KEA'AU, Hawai'i — Police said yesterday that a 20-year Puna driver who was killed Friday night in a collision on the Kea'au-Pahoa Road was attempting to pass a vehicle on the right and lost control of his car before he was hit by an oncoming pickup.

Logan Aolaolagi of Hawaiian Paradise Park was pronounced dead at 9:07 p.m. at Hilo Medical Center. Two other people were injured in the three-vehicle accident.

Police said they responded to a 6:40 p.m. call three miles east of Kea'au, where Aolaolagi's 1990 Acura rear-ended a 1990 Jeep Cherokee, crossed the center line and was stuck broadside by the Kea'au-bound 1995 Nissan pickup.

The Jeep driver was Alex Germain, 31, also of Hawaiian Paradise Park, who was not hurt. The pickup truck was being driven by Francisco Albana, 36, who was treated and released.

His passenger, Roseanna Kanoa, 52, of Mountain View was treated for head, abdominal and leg injuries and transferred to The Queen's Medical Center on O'ahu.

Sgt. Samuel Jelsma said all but Kanoa were wearing seat belts. The airbags deployed in Aolaolagi's car.

The crash caused a three-hour delay on the main east-west Puna route.

"High speed has been determined to be a major factor in the crash," Jelsma said.

It was the Big Island's sixth fatality this year — the fifth so far in February. There were none at this time in 2001.