UPDATED MEDIA RELEASE (7/29/10 4:27 p.m.)

The man who died Thursday (July 29) from injuries he sustained in a single motorcycle crash at the intersection of Ainaloa Drive and Macadamia Street in the Ainaloa subdivision has been identified as 42-year-old Todd M. Hart of Kea’au.

MEDIA RELEASE (7/29/10 9:11 a.m.)

A 42-year-old Kea’au man died Thursday (July 29) from injuries he sustained in a single motorcycle crash at the intersection of Ainaloa Drive and Macadamia Street in the Ainaloa subdivision in Pāhoa.

Responding to a 9:23 p.m. call (July 28), Puna patrol officers determined that the victim was operating a 2005 Suzuki motorcycle and traveling south on Macadamia Street when he failed to stop at the stop sign at Ainaloa Drive struck a utility pole.

The victim, who was wearing a helmet was transported to the Hilo Medical Center by Fire Rescue personnel where he later died at 1:46 a.m.

Police believe that speed and alcohol were factors in this crash.

The name of the victim is being withheld pending notification of the next of kin.

Traffic Enforcement Unit officers have initiated a coroner’s inquest case and have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause death.

Because this crash occurred on a private road, it is not counted for statistical purposes in the yearly fatality tally.