Updated at 8:59 p.m., Saturday, February 17, 2007
Big Island man dies after motorcycle wreck
Advertiser Staff
A Captain Cook, Hawai'i, man died today from injuries he suffered Friday morning when his motorcycle slammed into a truck turning left into the path of the motorcycle, the Hawai'i Police Department reported.Police said Joseph Keliipaakaua III, 53, who was not wearing a helmet, was traveling north on his 2005 Honda motorcycle on Route 11 at around 11:30 a.m. when the accident occurred at the intersection of Hawai'i Belt Road and Captain Cook Road.
Keliipaakaua was taken to Kona Community Hospital by fire rescue personnel, then flown to The Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu, where he died at 12:37 a.m. today, police said.
The 79-year-old driver of the southbound 2006 GMC pickup refused medical treatment at the scene. He also was from Captain Cook, police said.
It was not know if speed or alcohol were factors. Traffic officers have opened a negligent homicide investigation, and an autopsy to determine the cause of death has been ordered.
Big Island police are asking anyone with information about the crash to call officer Joshua Lewis at (808) 326-4646, ext. 229.
