A 19-year-old Pahoa male was critically injured in a two-vehicle collision on Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway near the 82.5-mile marker in North Kona yesterday.

An initial police investigation determined that a blue 2005 Dodge Dakota pickup, driven by the 19-year-old male, was making a left turn onto Queen Kaahumanu Highway when it was broadsided by a southbound gray 2006 Ford F-250 pickup. The Ford was driven by a 21-year-old male from Kamuela.

The Dodge driver, whose identity is being withheld pending notification of his next of kin. was initially transported to North Hawai’i Community Hospital for treatment and later transferred to the Queen’s Medical Center on Oahu for advanced care.

The 21-year-old Ford driver and his passenger were uninjured.

The Area II Traffic Enforcement Unit has launched a traffic collision investigation and requests assistance from anyone who witnessed the crash.