Police Investigating Traffic-Related Death in Hilo

Big Island police are investigating following an early Wednesday morning, Aug. 24, incident in Hilo that left one man dead.

At 6:20 a.m. Wednesday, South Hilo Patrol officers responded to the Pūʻainakō Street extension near the 3 mile-marker to a report of a man that was reportedly struck by a vehicle. Responding officers later determined the victim had stopped his commercial flatbed delivery truck at that location to secure his cargo. The delivery driver was subsequently struck by his own vehicle.

The male victim, estimated to be in his early 50s, was transported to Hilo Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 7:35 a.m. His identity is being withheld pending positive identification and notification of next of kin.

An autopsy is scheduled Thursday, Aug. 25, to determine the exact cause of death.

Another vehicle with two male occupants was observed by witnesses to be in the area at the same time. Police are investigating whether these two individuals were involved in the incident.

The Hawai‘i Police Department Area I Criminal Investigation Division and Area I Traffic Enforcement Unit personnel responded to the scene and are continuing the investigation, which is currently classified as a coroner’s inquest.

Police ask anyone with information about this incident or who might have been in the area where it happened between 6 and 6:20 a.m. Wednesday to contact the police department’s nonemergency line at 808-935-3311 or contact Detective Blaine Morishita with the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at 808-961-2385 or via email at Blaine.Morishita@hawaiicounty.gov.

Those who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 808-961-8300.