MEDIA RELEASE

A 54-year-old man died in a single-vehicle traffic crash Monday morning (April 25) in Kailua-Kona just south of the Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway and Kealakehe Parkway intersection.

He has been identified as Christopher Allen of Hōlualoa.

Responding to a 6:37 a.m. call, police determined that Allen had been operating a 2004 Toyota pickup truck and traveling north on Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway (Route 19) just south of the intersection with Kealakehe Parkway when he ran off the east shoulder of the roadway, struck a utility pole and overturned his vehicle in a lava field adjacent to the highway. Allen was taken to Kona Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 10:48 a.m.

Police believe speed and inattention were factors in this crash, but it was not immediately known if alcohol was a factor.

An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.

The Traffic Enforcement Unit has initiated a coroner’s inquest investigation and is asking for anyone who witnessed the crash to call Officer Christopher Kapua-Allison at 326-4646, extension 229. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.

This is the 10th traffic fatality this year compared with seven at this time last year.