(Update) Police ID Motorcyclist Killed in Kea‘au Traffic Collision

Police have identified the individual who died in a traffic collision in Kea‘au on Sunday, February 2, 2025, as 32-year-old, Negozi Young of Mountain View.

Responding to a traffic collision call at 10:32 a.m., police learned that three motorcycles were traveling in a northerly (Hilo bound) direction on Highway 11, just below the Kamehameha Schools campus in Kea‘au, when a 2007 Dodge Caliber four-door sedan attempted to make a left turn from Old Volcano Road onto Highway 11. The lead motorcycle, a Yamaha operated by Young, subsequently struck the sedan. The collision caused Young’s motorcycle to strike the second motorcycle, a 2006 Suzuki GSX-R600, operated by a 38-year-old Puna woman, causing her to lose control of her motorcycle and slide off the roadway. The third motorcyclist, a 41-year-old Kona man, was able to avoid striking the vehicle or debris and was not injured and his motorcycle was not damaged.

Young’s motorcycle had no license plate and police are unable to confirm the model of the motorcycle at this time.

Young was unresponsive at the scene and transported to the Hilo Benioff Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased at 10:45 a.m. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.

At this time, police believe speed to be a factor in this investigation.  Alcohol and/or drugs are not believed to be a factor.

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

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 4^th traffic fatality of 2025 compared to 4 this same time last year.