Update: Police identify cyclist killed in Pāhoa traffic crash

Update at 4:57 p.m. on Jan. 1, 2025: 

The Hawaiʻi Police Department have identified the bicyclist who passed away from a fatal traffic collision on Dec. 30, 2024 as 58-year old James M. Cordova of Pāhoa.

Responding to the collision at 7:57 p.m. Monday evening, police investigators determined that a 2018 Volkswagen GTI sedan, operated by 36-year-old Michael L. Richardson of Pāhoa, was traveling east on Kahakai Boulevard just west of Olao Street, when it struck Cordova on a blue mountain bike as he was also traveling east in the east-bound lane of Kahakai Boulevard.

Cordova was unresponsive at the scene and transported to the Hilo Benioff Medical Center by ambulance where he was pronounced deceased at 8:55 p.m. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the cause of death.  

Richardson was arrested for:

• First-degree negligent homicide
• Operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant
• No motor vehicle insurance policy

After conferral with the County Prosecutor’s Office, Richardson was released pending further investigation and results of toxicology tests.

The East Hawaii Traffic Enforcement Unit is asking for anyone who may have witnessed the traffic collision or has information to contact Officer Jerome Duarte at (808) 961-2339 or via email at Jerome.Duarte@hawaiicounty.gov.

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

This was the 29th traffic fatality on Hawai‘i Island in 2024 compared to 15 at the same time period in 2023.

Original post at 9:06 a.m. Dec. 31: 

A man from Pāhoa was arrested on suspicion of operating a vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant and negligent homicide after fatally colliding with a bicyclist in Puna.

This is the 29th traffic fatality on Hawai‘i Island in 2024 compared to 15 this time last year.

Hawai‘i Island police responded to the crash on Monday at 7:57 p.m. on Kahakai Boulevard. Through the course of their investigation, they learned Michael L. Richardson, 36, was traveling east in a 2018 Volkswagen GTI sedan when he struck a man on a blue mountain bike who was traveling east just west of Olao Street.

The bicyclist, possibly in his 50s, was found unresponsive at the scene and transported to the Hilo Benioff Medical Center via ambulance. He was pronounced deceased at 8:55 p.m.

The victim’s identity is unknown at this time pending identification and notification of next of kin.

An autopsy has been ordered to determine the cause of death.

Richardson was taken into custody and remains at the Hilo Police Station pending further investigation. He was arrested on suspicion of first-degree negligent homicide, operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant and no motor vehicle insurance policy.

The East Hawai‘i Traffic Enforcement Unit is asking for anyone who may have witnessed the collision or has information to contact Officer Jerome Duarte at 808-961-2339 or via email at Jerome.Duarte@hawaiicounty.gov.

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