Pro skateboarder turned photographer Jaya Bonderov died Tuesday in Wainiha, Hawaii. He was 40 years old.
"At this time, Kaua'i police have classified this as an unattended death [meaning that nobody saw it happen]," Sarah Blane, a spokesperson for the Kaua'i Police Department, told ESPN.com. "An autopsy is being conducted to help determine Bonderov's cause of death."
The Hawaii native, whose full name was Govinda Jaya Bonderov, turned pro for Santa Cruz Skateboards in the early 1990s before co-founding the now-defunct Adrenalin Skateboards with Chris Senn in 1995. After his pro career, the stylish regular-footer photographed prolifically, mostly for Skateboarder Magazine.
Bonderov's body was found near his SUV Tuesday morning on Kuhio Highway, just north of the Laumaha'i Bridge. Authorities closed the narrow, two-lane highway in both directions between the bridge and the Wainiha General Store from approximately 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.
According to Blane, the incident remains under police investigation, and no foul play is suspected at this time.
Update: Bonderov lost control of his Nissan SUV and hit a guardrail while driving southbound on Kuhio Highway, according to a statement released by Kauai Police Chief Darryl Perry. Responding officers and medics found Bonderov deceased upon arrival, his body pinned partially outside the driver-side door. No other vehicles were involved in the collision. The investigation is ongoing; however, there is no evidence to suspect foul play.
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