HILO, Hawaii — Big Island police have identified a 60-year-old Hilo man who died Thursday in a single-car crash near Pu'uanahulu as prominent Hilo land use lawyer Robert "Ben" Tsukazaki.

Tsukazaki, a partner in the firm Tsukazaki Yeh & Moore, was pronounced dead at 10:27 a.m. at North Hawaii Community Hospital in Waimea.

Police were called to the scene near the 22-mile marker of Mamalahoa Highway at 8:53 a.m. and determined Tsukazaki was driving a 2008 Pontiac four-door sedan south toward Kailua when he lost control, ran off the road and struck a utility pole.

Police believe speed was a contributing factor in this crash, and have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

Tsukazaki's death is the 12th traffic fatality on the Big Island this year, the same amount at this time last year.