Car crash leaves two dead on Big Island

By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer

Two men were killed and another man seriously injured in an auto crash Tuesday night on Hawai'i Belt Road at Pu'uanahulu in the Big Island's North Kona district.

Speed and alcohol may have contributed to the 9:30 p.m. crash, said investigating officer Bradley Freitas.

Police said the three men were in a four-door sedan traveling south on Mamalahoa Highway that veered off the roadway, struck a rock embankment and rolled over several times before landing on its roof.

Two passengers were ejected from the car. Firefighters removed the driver, who was pinned in the car.

An injured man was flown to North Hawai'i Community Hospital and was later transferred to The Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu.

The other two men were pronounced dead at Kona Community Hospital at 1 a.m. Their names were being withheld.

The deaths increased the 2003 traffic fatality count on the Big Island to 27, compared with 19 by the same date last year.

Anyone who may have witnessed the crash is asked to call Freitas in Kona at (808) 326-4277, or Sgt. Leroy Victorino in Hilo at (808) 961-2332.

Reach Rod Ohira at rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8181.