Two people were killed yesterday in separate traffic accidents in South Kohala and Laupahoehoe on the Big Island.

A 55-year-old Waikoloa man died in a 3:28 p.m. collision between a motorcycle and pickup truck on Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway and Mauna Lani Drive in South Kohala.

The Laupahoehoe fatality involved a station wagon which went off Liloa Road in North Hilo at 11:41 a.m. and caught fire. A man's body burned beyond recognition was recovered from the driver's seat of the vehicle, according to Traffic Enforcement Unit supervising Sgt. Christopher Gali.

The deaths were the 17th and 18th traffic fatalities of the year on the Big Island as compared to 26 at the same time last year.

Police identified the South Kohala victim as Ricardo Pinto of Waikoloa.

Pinto was operating a south-bound 2008 Honda motorcycle on Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway when he collided into a 1999 Ford pickup truck driven by a 66-year-old man, which was turning left from the highway onto Mauna Lani Drive. The impact forced the truck to collide into a 2002 Mazda sedan driven by a woman, 24, of Honoka'a, which was in the merge lane.

Pinto was taken to North Hawai'i Community Hospital where he died at 4:08 p.m. Police said he was wearing a helmet.

The male victim in the Laupahoehoe crash was pronounced dead at Hilo Medical Center at 6:01 p.m.

North Hilo patrol officers said the man was driving a station wagon south on Liloa Road when he lost lost control of the vehicle and ran off the left side of the road. The car burst into flames, trapping the driver inside.

Police are waiting to confirm the man's identity before releasing his name.