Hawai‘i Island police are investigating a single vehicle traffic collision in Puna that resulted in the death of a Kailua-Kona man.
The collision occurred on Thursday, May 5 on Kahakai Boulevard, in the Hawaiian Beaches area of Pãhoa.
Responding to the 3:27 p.m. report of a collision, police investigators determined that a 2008 Honda Civic sedan left a nearby driveway and proceeded east down Kahakai Boulevard. The Honda Civic then crossed to the north side of the roadway and struck a mailbox and chain-link fence of a residence before coming to a stop. At the time of the collision the roadway was wet and it had been raining off and on.
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The operator of the sedan, 31-year-old Ashton Martines, of Kailua-Kona, was unresponsive at the scene and transported to Hilo Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead at 4:51 p.m. An autopsy has been requested to determine the exact cause of death.
The front seat passenger of the sedan, a 30 year-old man, did not receive any injuries as a result of the traffic collision.
The East Hawaii Traffic Enforcement Unit is conducting further investigation relative to any contributing factors and have initiated a coroner’s inquest investigation, which is pending.
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Police are asking for anyone who may have witnessed the collision to contact Officer Blayne Matsui at 808-961-2339 or via email [email protected]. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 808-961-8300.
This is the 14th fatal traffic collision of 2022 compared to eight fatal traffic collisions during this same time period last year.
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