13-year-old boy killed in North Kona RTV crash

A 13-year-old Kailua-Kona boy was killed after being ejected from a rugged terrain vehicle, or RTV, he was riding on after it crashed into a rock embankment Tuesday evening in North Kona.

Hawai‘i Island police say Maxim Beregovoy was riding with an 8-year-old boy driving an orange Kubota RTV X900 at about 5:45 p.m. in the 72-1000 block of Puukala Road.

Kubota’s RTV series are designed for navigating rough landscapes.

The RTV veered off the roadway, struck a rock embankment and overturned. Beregovoy was ejected from the vehicle and later transported to Kona Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 7 p.m.

The 8-year-old driver sustained minor, non-life-threatening injuries and was treated at the scene before being released.

The Hawai‘i Police Department Area II Traffic Enforcement Unit initiated a major traffic collision investigation.

Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to contact Officer Adam Roberg at 808-326-4646, extension 229, or via email at adam.roberg@hawaiicounty.gov.

Those who want to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 808-961-8300.

This marks the 25th traffic fatality of 2024 compared with 15 by this time last year.