HPD Identifies Highway 11 Crash Victim

Big Island Now stock photo. June 2016.

UPDATE: Aug. 30

Police have identified the man who died from injuries sustained in a one-vehicle crash Friday, Aug. 26, on Highway 11 at the intersection of North Glenwood Road in Mountain View.

He was identified through fingerprints as 18-year-old Lucas Derego of Mountain View Drive in Mountain View.

ORIGINAL POST: Aug. 29

An unidentified man died over the weekend from injuries sustained in a one-vehicle crash on Highway 11 at the intersection of North Glenwood Road in Mountain View.

At 10:28 p.m., Friday, Aug. 26, Puna patrol officers observed a Chevrolet two-door sedan with severe damage in a ditch off Highway 11 near North Glenwood Road.

It was determined that the car had been traveling Hilo bound on Highway 11 and had struck a rock retaining wall. The driver, who was the sole occupant, was not wearing a seat belt and died at the scene.

Police believe that speed was a factor. It is unknown if drugs or alcohol were involved.

The man was taken to Hilo Medical Center, where he was officially pronounced dead at 3:53 a.m. Saturday.

The Area I Traffic Enforcement Unit has initiated a coroner’s inquest investigation. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.

The man’s name is being withheld pending positive identification and notification of next of kin.

Police ask anyone who witnessed the crash to call the Hawai‘i Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311 or contact Officer Casey Cabral at 961-8889 or casey.cabral@hawaiicounty.gov.

This is the 16th fatality on Hawaiʻi Island this year compared with 15 at this time last year.