KAILUA-KONA >> A Big Island motorcyclist was killed Tuesday night on Queen Kaahumanu Highway in Kona when he hit a donkey on the highway, police said. Collision with
donkey kills bikerStar-Bulletin staff
The victim was identified as Michael "Zack" Carta, 29, of Orchidland Estates, south of Hilo.
Police received a call shortly before 8 p.m. saying Carta had been seen traveling at a high speed, passing other vehicles in the Kaupulehu area as he headed toward Kailua-Kona.
Riding a 2001 Honda, Carta was driving through an area marked by a "Donkey Crossing" sign when the accident took place, police said.
The impact with the animal knocked Carta from his motorcycle onto the pavement, police said.
A black helmet was found at the scene, but it was not on Carta's head, and it was unclear whether he had been wearing it.
After Carta was knocked from the motorcycle, the machine traveled another 1,400 feet on the shoulder of the road along a field of old lava, police said. Carta was pronounced dead at Kona Community Hospital at 12:45 a.m. yesterday.
Police said the donkey was also killed by the accident.
Carta's death was the 19th Big Island traffic fatality of the year, compared with 20 at the same time last year.