Man Dead After Tractor Falls Off 12-Foot Cliff

A 25-year-old Puna man died today after the tractor he was driving fell off a cliff and into a stream above Hilo.

Police identified the victim as Jose Luiz Hernandez-Miranda of Keaau.

Hernandez-Miranda was operating a Ford tractor on a farm on Mailekea Road, which is located off Kaiwiki Road, when he got too close to a 12-foot cliff and both he and the tractor went over the edge.

Fire department paramedics arriving at the scene shortly before noon found Hernandez-Miranda in the streambed next to the tractor. Hernandez-Miranda was unresponsive and had no pulse, a fire department spokesman said.

Chopper 1 was used to lift him to a waiting ambulance which transported him to Hilo Medical Center. He was pronounced dead at the hospital at 12:38 p.m.

An autopsy will be done to determine the cause of death.