Papaikou man killed in Kona crash, identified by police

(BIVN) – A single-vehicle accident in North Kona on Tuesday left a 78-year-old male passenger from Papaikou dead and the female driver required hospitalization.

The Hawaii Police Department identified the male victim in a later news release and provided additional details about the incident:

A 78-year-old Papaikou man died in a single-vehicle crash on Tuesday, May 7, 2024. The incident occurred on the Mamalahoa Highway (Highway 190) near the 31.5 mile marker north of Kona, Hawaii.

The 78-year-old driver was positively identified as Jeffrey Lawrence Gross.

Responding to a call at 12:23 p.m., police investigations revealed that a silver 2014 Kia ​​Sorento was traveling southbound, crossed the solid white fog line (Makai side) and left the right side of the road. The vehicle then fell down an embankment and overturned. The 78-year-old male passenger was taken to Kona Community Hospital for treatment and later died. He was pronounced dead at 2:07 p.m. Also in the 2014 Kia ​​Sorento was the 48-year-old driver from Papaikou, who was also taken to Kona Community Hospital for medical treatment. The 48-year-old driver remains at Kona Community Hospital.

The Area II Traffic Enforcement Unit has initiated a traffic investigation and is asking anyone who may have witnessed the collision to contact Officer Ansel Robinson at 326-4646 ext. 229 or email [email protected].

This is the 17th traffic fatality this year, compared to 8 this time last year.