UPDATE: Kea‘au Transfer Station Accident Results in Pedestrian Fatality

Kea‘au, Route 130. Photo by Hunter Bishop

UPDATE
Friday, May 27, 4:21 p.m.

The man who died today in a vehicle-pedestrian collision at the Kea‘au Transfer Station has been identified as 78-year-old Gary S. Ambrose of Keaʻau.

In response to an 11:13 a.m. call, police officers determined that Abrose was facing west at a trash shoot to dump garbage when he was struck by a 1990 Dodge van being operated by 66-year-old Perla Whitehawk-Taylor of Hilo.

He was pronounced dead at Hilo Medical Center at 2:40 p.m.

Whitehawk-Taylor was also taken to the hospital, where she was treated and released to the custody of police, who arrested her on suspicion of first-degree negligent homicide and driving under the influence. She remains in police custody while police continue the investigation.

Because this collision didn’t occur on a public highway, it is not counted as a fatality for statistical purposes.

UPDATE
Friday, May 27, 3:04 p.m.

The Hawai‘i County Department of Environmental Management reports that the Kea‘au Transfer Station in Puna is temporarily closed today, May 27, 2016, due to an auto/pedestrian accident.

Upon arrival, the Hawai‘i County Fire Department found a bystander and a Hawai‘i Police Department officer performing CPR on male laying in front of dumpster chute. He was reportedly pinned to the dumpster chute by a vehicle, suffering partial amputation of both legs and a major loss of blood.

HFD continued CPR upon arrival, M-19 FMSII ran and EKG monitor strip. HFD was advised to stop CPR; the victim died at the scene.

HFD personnel assessed the driver of vehicle for injuries. The driver reportedly wasn’t feeling well due to incident. The driver was transported to HLER via M-19.

HPD is still on scene conducting an investigation.

This unscheduled closure is anticipated to remain in place for the remainder of the day.

Normal operating hours will resume tomorrow—6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

ORIGINAL POST
Friday, May 27, 12:07 p.m.

The Kea‘au Transfer Station is closed for the rest of the day due to a traffic accident, the Hawai‘i Police Department reported today at 11:51 a.m.

Highway 130 at the transfer station remains open.