MEDIA RELEASE

A 33-year-old Mountain View man died Saturday (September 3) from injuries he sustained in a one-vehicle crash on Ohia Avenue in the Eden Roc Estates subdivision in Mountain View.

The driver was identified as John J. Alvarez, of a Mountain View address.

Responding to a 4:26 a.m. call, Puna patrol officers determined that Alvarez was operating a 1988 Nissan pickup truck and traveling south on Ohia Avenue .1 mile south of Moano Street when he lost control, ran off the left side of the road and struck a tree.

Alvarez was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle.

He was taken to Hilo Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 7:50 a.m.

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

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

Because this crash occurred on a private road, the death is not counted toward the official traffic fatality count.