Special reports by the Hawaii Police Department
on Holiday DUI deaths:

Dead for the new year thanks to boozing driver running over victim who was setting up fireworks for New Years celebration

Two minutes into the new year, Hawai‘i Island police responded to a South Kona traffic collision involving a vehicle and a pedestrian that left the male pedestrian dead. The driver of the vehicle, 23-year-old Kelly Kaikili Losalio, of Captain Cook, was arrested on suspicion of operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant (OVUII) and negligent homicide.

The pedestrian has been positively identified as 52-year-old Jelson Kainue Leslie of Captain Cook.

Receiving a report of the crash at 12:02 a.m. on Wednesday, January 1, 2025, officers responded to the scene in the 82-1000 block of Kinue Road, in a residential area mauka of the Captain Cook police substation. Police investigators determined that a white 2018 Honda Accord, driven by Losalio, was traveling eastbound when it struck Leslie as he was setting up fireworks on the roadway in celebration of the New Year.

After striking the pedestrian, the Honda collided with a parked white 1998 Chevrolet pickup truck. Leslie was transported to the Kona Community Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased at 1:00 a.m.

Preliminary findings suggest that both speed and impairment contributed to the collision.

Losalio was arrested on suspicion of OVUII and negligent homicide. He is currently in custody at the Kealakehe Police Station as the investigation remains ongoing.

The Area II Traffic Enforcement Unit has initiated a negligent homicide investigation and is asking for anyone who may have witnessed the collision to contact Officer Dayson Taniguchi at (808) 326-4646 ext. 229, or email at dayson.taniguchi@hawaiicounty.gov. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.

This is the 1st traffic fatality this year compared to 0 at this time last year.

 

𝗖𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 by DUI driver Michael L. Richardson 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗮̄𝗵𝗼𝗮 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻

Hawai‘i Island police are investigating a fatal traffic collision involving a vehicle and bicyclist that occurred on Monday evening, December 30, 2024, in Pāhoa. The driver of the vehicle, 36-year-old Michael L. Richardson of Pāhoa, has been arrested for negligent homicide, operating under the influence, and one other offense as a result of the crash.

Responding at 7:57 p.m. to the reported collision, police investigators determined that a 2018 Volkswagen GTI sedan, operated by Richardson, was traveling east on Kahakai Boulevard just west of Olao Street, when it struck a man on a blue mountain bike who was also traveling in an easterly direction in the east-bound lane of Kahakai Boulevard.

The bicyclist, possibly in his 50s, was located unresponsive at the scene and transported to the Hilo Benioff Medical Center via ambulance where he was pronounced deceased at 8:55 p.m. His identity is unknown at this time pending identification and notification of next of kin. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the cause of death.

Richardson was arrested for:
• First-degree negligent homicide
• Operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant
• No motor vehicle insurance policy

He remains in custody at the Hilo Police Station pending further investigation.

The East Hawaii Traffic Enforcement Unit is asking for anyone who may have witnessed the traffic collision or has information to contact Officer Jerome Duarte at (808) 961-2339 or via email at Jerome.Duarte@hawaiicounty.gov. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300 in Hilo.

This is the 29th traffic fatality on Hawai‘i Island in 2024 compared to 15 this time last year.