MEDIA RELEASE

A 27-year-old Kona man died early Sunday (November 1) in a crash involving three vehicles and a moped.

Kona patrol officers responded to a 1:56 a.m. call and determined that a 2007 Honda moped was traveling south on Ali’i Drive just north of Royal Poinsettia.

A 2006 Honda sports-utility vehicle was traveling north in the southbound lane when it struck a green Ford 2003 pickup truck as the Ford swerved into the oncoming lane in an attempt to avoid the collision. The Honda SUV then crashed head-on into the moped and dragged it and its operator 20 yards before crashing head-on with a 1994 Mazda pickup truck.

The moped operator, identified as Michael Jauss of Kailua-Kona, died at the scene. He was officially pronounced dead at Kona Community Hospital at 5:45 a.m.

All four occupants of the Ford pickup escaped injury.

The driver of the Honda SUV, 24-year-old Shanelle Castaneda Acantilado of Kailua-Kona, was not injured. She was arrested on suspicion of first-degree negligent homicide, driving under the influence and driving without insurance.

The driver of the Mazda pickup truck, 26-year-old Anthony B. Smith of Kailua-Kona, suffered minor injuries. He was taken to Kona Community Hospital, where he was treated and released and then arrested on suspicion of first-degree negligent homicide, driving under the influence, promoting a detrimental drug, driving without insurance and false safety certificate.

Castaneda Acantilado and Smith were released without charges pending further investigation.

Police ask that anyone who may have witnessed the crash call Officer Thomas Koyanagi at 326-4646, extension 229, or the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.

This was the 20th fatality this year.