Date: May 29, 2017
Contact: Jessica Ferracane, 808-345-4216 cellular
Hawaii National Park, HI -- One man is dead and two others were seriously injured following a single-vehicle roll-over accident that occurred Sun., May 28 at 8:58 p.m. near the 33-mile marker on Hwy. 11 in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.
The vehicle, a white Toyota Tacoma truck, was traveling in the Ka‘ū-bound lane when it rolled over and ejected all three occupants. A 48-year-old male passenger was found pinned beneath the truck and pronounced dead on the scene by Hawai‘i County Fire Department medics.
The 43-year-old male driver, a Pāhoa resident, was placed under arrest for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. He was transported by ambulance to Hilo Medical Center for further evaluation, and escorted by National Park law enforcement personnel. The third occupant, a 53-year-old male, was also transported to Hilo Medical Center for treatment.
One lane of Highway 11 remained open during the accident scene investigation, and both lanes were open and flowing freely early Monday morning. Names are being withheld pending notification of next of kin, and further investigation.
This is the second fatal traffic accident in the park this year.
Anyone with information regarding this accident can call Park Dispatch at (808) 985-6170.
-NPS-
