Speed and alcohol are suspected in a one-vehicle crash early yesterday in Kona that killed a 33-year-old man, Big Island police said

Police identified the victim as Joel Aguilar Ramirez, a Mexican national living in Kainaliu, Kona.

Ramirez was one of five men, all Mexican nationals, thrown from a southbound 1996 Geo that went off the right side of the roadway on Route 180 between the seven- and eight-mile markers at 3:33 a.m.

Ramirez died at Kona Community Hospital at 5:52 a.m.

None of the men were wearing seatbelts, said Sgt. Christopher Gali.

Investigators have been unable to determine who was driving. The other four — Salvador Gonzalez Cruz, 27; Jaime Lopez Aguilar, 23; Gerardo Aguilar Garza, 19; and Ivan Ramos Villegas, 18, all of Kainaliu — were treated for minor injuries. They were arrested for suspicion of first-degree negligent homicide and released pending further investigation.

Ramirez is the Big Island's 16th traffic fatality this year as compared to 23 by this time in 2007.