Former Kaua‘i resident dies in Kona crash

KONA — A former Kaua‘i resident was one of two men killed Friday following a car-motorcycle collision in Kona.

The Hawai‘i Police Department reported that Toby H. Ledward of Kailua-Kona, 40, was the motorcycle operator who died from injuries sustained at the intersection of Route 11 and Kalamalani Place in Captain Cook, South Kona.

A friend of Ledward’s said he was the son of Jimmy Ledward, was raised in Hanalei and graduated from Kapa‘a High School. He said Ledward had many friends in the surfing and motorcycling community.

The Traffic Enforcement Unit responding to a 9:13 p.m. call, where patrol officers determined that Ledward was operating a motorcycle and traveling south on Route 11. He reportedly crossed the centerline and collided with a pickup truck making a left turn onto Kalamalani Place, operated by a 33-year-old Glennard A. Sadumiano of Kealakekua.

Police report that Ledward was not wearing a helmet, was speeding and believe that alcohol was involved. He was transported to Kona Community Hospital and pronounced dead at 11:40 p.m.

Sadumiano was not wearing a seat belt. Fire Rescue personnel took him to the same hospital where he reportedly died at 9:38 p.m.

A third vehicle, a 1991 Toyota pickup truck that was parked on private property received minor damage.

Traffic Enforcement Unit officers have initiated negligent homicide and coroner’s inquest cases and have ordered autopsies to determine the exact cause of death.

These are the 17th and 18th traffic fatalities on the Big Island this year compared with 12 at this time last year.