Hawai‘i Island police are investigating a fatal traffic collision involving a motorcycle and a dump truck on Keaau-Pahoa Road, just south of the Pāhoa Police Station.

Yesterday afternoon, police learned that a motorcycle, being operated by a man believed to be in his 30s or 40s, was traveling in a south on Kea‘au-Pahoa Road when it 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.

The motorcyclist, whose identity is being withheld pending notification of the next of kin, was unresponsive at the scene and was transported to the Hilo Benioff Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.

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.

This 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.