Man, 78, is Hawaii island's 17th traffic fatality this year

May 8—A 78-year-old man has died after a solo car crash this afternoon on Mamalahoa Highway in North Kona, according to a statement from Hawaii island police. Police have identified him as Jeffrey Lawrence Gross, 78, of Papaikou. Gross was a passenger in the car. Officers responded to a 12:23 p.m. call Tuesday for a crash near the 31.5-mile marker of the highway. Police said a silver 2014 Kia Sorento was traveling southbound on the highway when it veered off the right shoulder, hurtled down an embankment, and turned over....