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Two visitors hurt in motorcycle crash

Two men were injured, one critically, in a motorcycle accident on Kamehameha Highway near the Crouching Lion in Ka'a'awa yesterday.

Police said the two men, visitors from Japan, were riding a 2002 Harley Davidson when the motorcycle began to wobble. The 31-year-old driver lost control of the motorcycle, and both men were thrown from the bike, police said.

The driver struck a guard rail several times and suffered head and leg injuries. The passenger, 24, suffered leg and body injuries. Both were flown by helicopter to The Queen's Medical Center where the driver was listed in critical condition and the passenger in serious condition.

Police said neither man was waring a helmet.

Kona man dies in one-car crash

HILO, Hawai'i — A 73-year-old man died Tuesday after he apparently lost control of his vehicle in Honaunau, struck a utility pole and was thrown from his vehicle, police said.

Police said Toshio Yoshizaki of Honaunau was pronounced dead at Kona Community Hospital at 7:44 a.m. Tuesday.

Yoshizaki was traveling west on Middle Ke'ei Road in Kona shortly before 6:50 a.m. about 0.8 mile from the intersection with Hawai'i Belt Road when he apparently lost control of the vehicle.

Police said Yoshizaki was not wearing a seat belt. His death was the 30th traffic fatality of the year for the Big Island, compared with 21 by this time last year.