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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, January 21, 2010

Kauai, Big Isle accidents kill 3


Advertiser Staff

Three people have died in three traffic accidents on Kaua'i and the Big Island over the past week.

In the latest incident, a 17-year-old boy died yesterday of injuries he sustained in a two-vehicle collision in Puna Tuesday night. The boy's name was not released yesterday by Big Island police.

Police said the collision happened about 6:50 p.m. on Kahakai Boulevard just north of Punawai Street in Hawaiian Beaches. Police said a Dodge pickup truck driven by a 74-year-old Pähoa man crossed the centerline and crashed into a 1980 Subaru driven by the boy.

Both drivers were taken to the Hilo Medical Center. Two males in the pickup were not injured, police said.

The 17-year-old boy was flown to The Queen's Medical Center for treatment, but he died at about 2 a.m. yesterday. The condition of the other driver was not available.

Police opened a negligent homicide case, but no arrests had been made as of yesterday afternoon.

Also on the Big Island, a 62-year-old visitor from Colorado was killed after his motorcycle crashed on 'Akaka Falls Road Jan. 14. The victim was identified as Herman A. Dietrich of Denver.

Police said Dietrich was operating a 2009 Harley- Davidson when he lost control of the motorcycle and ran off the right side of the road about 2:15 p.m.

He was taken to Hilo Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 4:40 p.m.

The man's wife, 63, was a passenger on the motorcycle and was taken to Hilo Medical Center in critical condition. She was scheduled to be transported to Queen's for treatment.

On Kaua'i, a 32-year-old Kapa'a man was killed in a two-car collision Tuesday night on Kaumuali'i Highway near the entrance to Kähili Mountain Park.

Police said the man was driving a Ford pickup that collided head-on with a GMC pickup that apparently crossed the center line about 10:15 p.m. The driver of the Ford was killed and a 27-year-old male passenger suffered minor injuries.

The 31-year-old driver of the other vehicle was in serious condition at Wilcox Hospital, police said.