Hawai‘i Island police are investigating a two-vehicle traffic collision that killed a Waimea husband and wife on Queen Ka‘ahumanu Highway yesterday morning.

Responding HPD officers determined that a silver 2021 Kia Forte sedan traveling southbound was attempting to overtake multiple vehicles, including a tractor-trailer carrying a full tank of fuel, when it collided head-on with a northbound brown 2004 Nissan Frontier pickup truck near the 79.5-mile marker.

The 51-year-old male driver of the Kia sedan, later identified as Reginald Kaleilehua Tolentino Jr., and his 55-year-old wife and passenger, Colette Marie Kaleialoha Tolentino, were transported to Kona Community Hospital, where they were pronounced dead.

The 55-year-old male driver of the Nissan pickup sustained life-threatening injuries in the collision and was transported to North Hawai‘i Community Hospital for initial treatment. He was subsequently transported to Queen’s Medical Center on O‘ahu for further care.

The Area II Traffic Enforcement Unit has initiated a major traffic collision investigation and is asking anyone who may have witnessed this collision to contact Officer Adam Roberg at (808) 326-4646, ext. 229, or email at adam.roberg@hawaiicounty.gov.