Victim in Fatal Volcanoes Park Crash Identified

Big Island Now stock photo. June 2016.

The male victim of a fatal two-vehicle accident that occurred in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park on the afternoon of Saturday, Jan. 21, has been identified as 65-year-old Paul Hernandez of New Jersey.

National Park Service rangers are seeking witnesses to the crash which happened on Highway 11 near the intersection of Nāmakanipaio Campground around 1 p.m. on Saturday,

Hernandez was traveling northbound on Highway 11 in a white Hyundai Elantra sedan. According to a witness, the Hyundai left its lane of travel as if doing a U-turn, and was struck by a blue Toyota Scion headed south, driven by a 33-year-old local male.

Hernandez was fatally injured upon impact. The local male was transported by ambulance to Hilo Medical Center.

Anyone with information regarding this accident is asked to call Park Dispatch at (808) 985-6170.