UPDATE 3/13/09 FROM POLICE MEDIA RELEASE

A 33-year-old Hilo man died Friday (March 13) from injuries he sustained in a single motor vehicle crash on Amaulu Road 1.2 miles west of Wainaku Avenue in Hilo.

The victim was identified as Jaime Rain Church of Hilo.

Responding to a 2:27 a.m. call, Hilo patrol officers determined that the victim was operating a Dodge ram 2500 pickup truck and travelling west on Amaulu Road when he lost control, ran off the roadway and struck a tree.

The victim was not wearing a seatbelt.

The victim was taken to Hilo Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 5:20 a.m.

Police have determined that speed and alcohol were involved.

Traffic Enforcement Unit officers have initiated a coroner’s inquest case and have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

Police ask anyone with information on this crash to call Officer Robert Pauole at 961-8119.

Because this crash occurred on a private road, the death is not counted toward the island’s official traffic fatality count.
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Fire/Rescue crews responded to a 2:31 a.m. alarm for a pickup truck accident on Amauulu Road 1/4 mile north of Maikalani Road in Wainaku. Crews found a victim trapped in the truck which had struck a tree. Firefighters used the jaws of life to partially remove the roof of the truck to free the victim who died.

The roadway was closed for about three hours as Hawaii County Police conducted a preliminary investigation with the road opening about about 5 a.m. The accident is under investigation by police.