A 55-year-old Big Island man was killed yesterday afternoon in a motorcycle crash on Hawai'i Belt Road near the 106-mile marker.

Police said the man was riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle north when a 49-year-old Captain Cook man in a 1999 Ford Ranger pickup truck traveling south made a left turn in front of the motorcycle.

The motorcycle driver was pronounced dead at Kona Community Hospital at 4:45 p.m.

A female passenger on the motorcycle was taken to the Kona hospital in critical condition and was expected to be flown to The Queen's Medical Center, police said.

The name of the dead man was being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

The pickup driver was arrested on suspicion of negligent homicide and negligent injury and was being held at the Kealakehe police station.

Police said it is unknown if alcohol or drugs were involved but speed played a factor. The motorcycle operator and passenger were not wearing helmets.

Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call Officer Joshua Lewis at 326-4646, ext. 229.