MEDIA RELEASE

A 66-year-old Hilo man and a 61-year-old Hilo woman died Saturday (September 3) from injuries sustained in a pedestrian/motorcycle crash on Railroad Avenue at Makalika Street in Hilo.

Responding to a 7:25 p.m. call, Hilo patrol officers determined that the woman exited an unknown vehicle near the intersection of Railroad Avenue and Makalika. The vehicle left the area and the woman, who walked in the north-bound lane, was struck by a motorcycle traveling north on Railroad Avenue.

The operator of the motorcycle was identified as Lionel Chartrand of Hilo. He was taken to Hilo Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 10:52 p.m.

The pedestrian, 61-year-old Rhonda Broad of Hilo, was also taken to the Hilo Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead at 10:55 p.m.

Chartrand was not wearing a helmet and police believe that speed was a factor in this crash.

Traffic Enforcement Unit officers have initiated a negligent homicide investigation for Broad and a coroner’s inquest investigation for Chartrand.

They have ordered autopsies to determine the exact causes of death.

Officers want to question the occupants of the vehicle that Broad exited.

Police ask anyone with information about this case to call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311 or contact Officer Erhard Autrata at 961-8118 or Erhard.Autrata@hawaiicounty.gov. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.

These are the 18th and 19th traffic fatalities on Hawaiʻi Island compared with 15 at this time last year.