UPDATE: Victim of Sunday’s Puna Traffic Fatality Identified

***Updated 12:05 p.m.***

Police have identified a man who died Sunday in a two-vehicle collision on Highway 130 as Matthew S. Therrien of Hilo.

Therrien, 26, died after he passed a vehicle and struck an oncoming pickup Sunday morning.

Matthew S. Therrien. Facebook photo.

Posted 9:21 a.m.:

A 26-year-old Hilo man died early Sunday from injuries sustained in a two-car crash on Highway 130.

Officers responding to a 4:31 a.m. call learned that the Hilo man was driving a 2010 Subaru multi-purpose vehicle in the Keaau direction when he overtook another vehicle and collided with an eastbound 2004 Ford F350 truck.

The driver of the pickup truck, a 52-year-old Keaau man, was transported to Hilo Medical Center with minor injuries. He was also arrested for suspicion of operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant, and released pending further investigation.

Police are also investigating whether the driver of the Subaru who died may have been intoxicated or speeding. His name is being withheld pending positive identification.

Both drivers were wearing seat belts.

The crash prompted police to close Highway 130, also known as the Keaau-Pahoa Highway, for several hours while police conducted their investigation. Traffic was re-routed onto the Puna emergency road through Hawaiian Acres and Ainaloa Boulevard until mid-morning.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact Officer Tuckloy Aurello at 961-8119.

The fatality was the fourth on public Big Island roadways this year compared to 11 at this time last year.