58-year-old Malvin Reyes of Pepe‘ekeō died following a motorcycle crash involving three vehicles on Highway 19 in Honomū on Monday, July 4. Police responded to a report of a head-on traffic collision in the area of the 13-14 mile markers of Māmalahoa Highway and determined that the motorcycle was traveling south when it crossed the centerline and sideswiped a sport utility vehicle and then proceeded to sideswipe a four-door sedan, before striking a third vehicle head-on. All three vehicles were heading northbound.
Reyes, was transported to Hilo Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. He was not wearing a helmet at the time of the collision. The other drivers that included a 74-year-old man, a 23-year-old man, and a 24-year-old woman were not injured in the crash. The East Hawaii Traffic Unit has initiated a negligent homicide investigation, which is pending. An autopsy is expected to determine the exact cause of death. It is undetermined if alcohol, drugs, or speed are contributing factors in the crash. Anyone with information on this traffic collision is asked to contact Officer Blayne Matsui of the East Hawaii Traffic Enforcement Unit, at 808-961-2339, or via email at blayne.matsui@hawaiicounty.gov.