For the Second Time in Two Days Police Investigating a Fatal Motorcycle Collision in Puna

Hawai‘i Island police are investigating a fatal traffic collision involving a motorcycle and a dump truck that occurred Monday afternoon, February 3, 2025, on Keaau-Pahoa Road, (Highway 130), just south of the Pāhoa Police Station.  

Responding to a reported traffic collision at 3:38 p.m., police learned that a motorcycle, being operated by a man believed to be in his 30s or 40s, was traveling in a south (Pāhoa bound) direction on Kea‘au-Pahoa Road when the motorcyclist began passing multiple vehicles on the mauka shoulder. The motorcyclist then collided with a 2020 Peterbilt dump truck that was making a right turn into a driveway in the 15-2600 block of Kea‘au-Pahoa Road. Multiple witnesses were interviewed at the scene.

The male motorcyclist was unresponsive at the scene and was transported to the Hilo Benioff Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased at 7:23 p.m. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.

The motorcyclist’s identity is being withheld pending notification of the next of kin.

The operator of the dump truck, a 67-year-old Hilo man, was not injured.

At this time, police believe speed and alcohol and/or drugs are possible factors in the collision. The male motorcyclist was not wearing a helmet. 

The East Hawaii Traffic Enforcement Unit responded to the scene and is continuing this investigation.

It is the second time in two days that Hawai‘i Island police have responded to a fatal traffic collision involving a motorcycle in Puna. Police are still investigating a traffic collision involving a motorcyclist and a sedan on Sunday, February 2, in Kea‘au that killed a 32-year-old Puna man.

If anyone has additional information regarding this collision they may contact Officer Jerome Duarte at (808) 961-2339, or via email at Jerome.Duarte@hawaiicounty.gov. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.

This is the 5^th traffic fatality of 2025 compared to 4 this same time last year.