HPD Identifies Man Killed in Traffic Incident in Hilo

Authorities have identified a man killed after reportedly being struck by his own vehicle in Hilo last week.

The incident occurred on Wednesday, Aug. 24. Hawai’i Police Department’s South Hilo patrol officers responded to the Puainako Street extension near mile marker 3 at approximately 6:20 a.m. on a report of a male that had reportedly been struck by a vehicle. Responding officers determined the victim, later identified as Allen Y.L. Kealoha, 62, of Pāhoa, had stopped his commercial flatbed delivery truck on the side of the road just above the entrance to the Hilo Hillside subdivision.

“It’s believed the vehicle may have experienced mechanical issues, and that the driver was securing his cargo,” HPD stated in a press release. “Investigators believe the delivery driver was subsequently struck by his own vehicle.”

Kealoha was transported to the Hilo Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead. An autopsy was performed, and based on the known circumstances in this investigation, the forensic pathologist ruled the death as accidental. The final autopsy report is pending.

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

Witnesses the morning of the accident reported seeing another vehicle with two male occupants to be in the area around the same time of the incident.

Police are asking for anyone with information on this incident or who may have been in the area of the Puainako Street extension on the morning of Wednesday, Aug. 24, between 6 and 6:20 a.m., to contact the department’s non-emergency number at 808-935-331. They can also contact Detective Blaine Morishita of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at 808-961-2385 or email him at Blaine.Morishita@hawaiicounty.gov.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at (808) 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.