Hawai‘i Island police respond to second fatal crash on Daniel K. Inouye Highway in less than a week

Hawai‘i Island police respond to second fatal crash in less than a week on Daniel K. Inouye Highway.

One man is dead and two others are injured following a single-vehicle crash on the highway late Thursday night.

According to police, the crash occurred at around 11 p.m. at mile marker 18. Through the course of their investigation, officers learned that a 2015 Nissan SUV traveling east, Hilo bound, on DKI Highway, was overtaking another vehicle when it lost control on the wet roadway, leaving the eastbound shoulder and rolling several times before coming to a stop.

The front seat passenger, a 63-year-old man from Hilo, suffered substantial injuries and was transported via ambulance to Hilo Medical Center for treatment.

The rear passenger, 46-year-old Steven Jonathan of Hilo, was found unresponsive at the scene and transported to Hilo Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased at 2:28 a.m.

According to police, Jonathan appeared to not be wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.

The SUV driver, 31-year-old Marvin Neth from Pāhoa, suffered minor injuries and was transported to Hilo hospital for treatment. Upon release, Neth was arrested for the following offenses:

• First-degree negligent homicide
• Second-degree negligent injury
• Operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant
• Reckless driving
• No motor vehicle insurance

Neth remains in custody at this time pending further investigation.

The East Hawai‘i Traffic Enforcement Unit responded to the scene and is continuing this investigation. At this time, police believe that speed, impairment, and reckless driving were the primary factors in the crash.

This is the second traffic fatality on Saddle Road within five days. An 80-year-old Keauhou woman was killed on March 16 in a three-vehicle collision at the 25-mile marker when a 2023 BMW sedan traveling east was overtaking vehicles and struck a 2013 Ford SUV traveling west, head-on.

The impact of the head-on crash caused the Ford SUV to strike a 2007 Chevy pickup truck.

Police are urging motorists to drive responsibly and safely, especially during inclement weather.

“Before your foot touches the gas pedal, you need to be mindful that your actions might have devastating consequences to yourself or others,” says Maj. Scott Amaral of Hawai‘i Police Department’s Area I Operations.

“Impaired driving is a continuing problem on Hawai‘i Island roads. We are doing all we can to ensure the roads are safe and need motorists to do their part as well by driving soberly and safely.”

If anyone has information regarding this collision they are asked to contact Officer Johnathan Rapoza Davis at 808-961-2339, or via email at Johnathan.Rapoza@hawaiicounty.gov. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 808-961-8300.

This is the ninth traffic fatality of 2024 as compared to five traffic fatalities this same time last year.