A Hawaii Fire Department veteran was killed in a three-vehicle crash Wednesday morning on Mamalahoa Highway near the North Kona-South Kohala boundary.
Fire Chief Darren Rosario confirmed to West Hawaii Today the man had an 18-year career with the department. The West Hawaii resident had recently been promoted to a fire captain position in East Hawaii, and was headed to work at the time of the fatal collision. “A great man was taken way too soon and too young,” Rosario said Wednesday afternoon, referring to the veteran firefighter as having “always been a great asset to our department.”
Police Wednesday evening identified the victim as 49-year-old David Alan Mahon, of Kailua-Kona.
“At this time, we’re in heavy mourning and our hearts and prayers continue to be with his family at this time,” the fire chief said.
The fire captain was operating a purple 2016 Harley Davidson motorcycle and headed Waimea bound on Mamalahoa Highway, also known as Highway 190, when he collided with a Kona-bound 2006 Honda Pilot SUV near mile marker 14 around 6:35 a.m. about 0.2 miles south of the highway’s intersection with Daniel K. Inouye Highway, Hawaii Police and Fire officials said.