HILO — A 26-year-old Kurtistown man died early yesterday from injuries sustained in a single-vehicle crash in the Hawaiian Acres subdivision in Kurtistown, Hawaii County police said.

Puna officers said Christopher S. Bortz, of a Kurtistown address, was driving a 2002 Toyota pickup north on Road 8 when he crossed the centerline, ran off the left side of the road and overturned at about 5:30 a.m.
Bortz, who was not wearing a seat belt, had to be extricated from the truck. He was taken to Hilo Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 8:38 a.m.
Police do not know if speed or alcohol were factors in the crash. They have ordered an autopsy.
Bortz is the seventh traffic fatality on the Big Island this year compared to 11 at the same time last year.



Responding to a 5:26 a.m. call, Puna patrol officers determined that the victim was operating a 2002 Toyota pickup truck and was traveling north on Road 8 when he crossed the centerline and ran off the left side of the road and overturned.