Hawai'i County police have identified Kimo K. Elderts, 28, of Hilo, as the motorist who died Saturday from injuries he sustained in a two-vehicle crash on Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway, three-tenths miles south of the 71-mile marker.

Two compact cars collided head-on, killing Elderts and leaving the two people in the other vehicle hospitalized in serious condition, Big Island traffic investigators said.

The accident occurred shortly after 1 a.m. Saturday at the 72-mile marker in South Kohala. Elderts was pinned in his vehicle and died upon arrival at Kona Community Hospital.

Police closed the two-lane state highway as county firefighters used extrication tools to free the driver and passenger from the second vehicle and took them to the North Hawai'i Community Hospital by ambulance.