A 57-year-old Mountain View man was killed yesterday when the moped he was operating collided with a car on Route 11, just north of Pszyk Road.

Hawaii County police said the man was traveling north on the shoulder of the road at about 2:45 p.m. when he pulled onto Route 11 and was hit by a pickup truck.

Police said the man, who was not wearing a helmet, was dead at the scene.

This is the 15th traffic fatality of the year on the Big Island, compared with 10 at the same time last year.

The driver of the truck, a 59-year-old Glenwood man, and his passenger, a 17-year-old boy, were not injured. Both were wearing seatbelts.

Police say they do not know if speed, alcohol or drugs are involved. They have initiated a negligent homicide investigation and have ordered an autopsy.

The victim's name is being withheld pending positive identification and notification of relatives.

Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call Officer Clarence Davies at 961-8118.