21-year-old killed in North Kona crash; negligent homicide investigation launched

A 21-year-old Kailua-Kona man died in a car accident in North Kona early Friday morning, June 28, after a 40-year-old Hilo woman reportedly crossed the centerline on Highway 190 and collided head-on with the male driver.

The Hawaiʻi Island Police Department made the announcement on Friday afternoon, saying the incident prompted their launch of a negligent homicide investigation.

According to police, officers responded to a traffic collision reported at 4:47 a.m. on Māmalahoa Highway (Highway 190), just north of the 23-mile marker.

Police determined that a southbound green 2015 Subaru Forester, driven by a 40-year-old Hilo woman crossed the double solid yellow line in an attempt to pull over onto the mauka shoulder (opposite side) of the roadway, as there was no shoulder on the makai side.

While crossing over the centerline, the Subaru collided head-on with a northbound silver 2000 Acura Integra sedan, driven by a 21-year-old man, later identified as Alvin Godfrey Castro III. Castro was transported to the North Hawaii Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 6:25 a.m.

The 40-year-old female driver of the Subaru was transported to the Kona Community Hospital for treatment where she remains hospitalized.

The Area II Traffic Enforcement Unit has initiated a negligent homicide investigation and is asking for anyone who may have witnessed the collision to contact Officer Dayson Taniguchi at (808) 326-4646, ext. 229, or email at dayson.taniguchi@hawaiicounty.gov.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300 in Hilo.

This is the 20th traffic fatality this year compared to 10 at this time last year.