Police seeking driver in Hilo hit and run that seriously injured a pedestrian

Hawai‘i Island police are searching for the driver involved in a pedestrian hit-and-run traffic collision in Hilo that left a 75-year-old male with serious injuries.

The single-vehicle collision occurred on the evening of Dec. 28, on Kilauea Avenue near the intersection with Mohouli Street in Hilo.

Responding to a 6:42 p.m. call, South Hilo Patrol Officers determined that an unknown pickup truck or SUV struck the man, who was crossing the street at the time. Officers were able to determine that the vehicle continued traveling north on Kilauea Avenue after the collision.

The male pedestrian was transported to the Hilo Medical Center for treatment and was later transferred to the Queens Medical Center on O‘ahu for further treatment.

The driver of the vehicle fled the scene and failed to render aid to the pedestrian. Failure to render aid when a person is seriously injured or killed in a traffic collision is a Class “B” felony that may be punishable by up to 10 years in prison and fines up to $25,000. Failure to render aid is covered under section 291C-14 of the Hawai‘i Revised Statutes. The South Hilo Patrol Division has initiated a Negligent Injury investigation and are  asking for anyone who may have witnessed the collision to contact the Hawai‘i Police Department’s non-emergency number at 808-935-311.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the island-wide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers does not record calls or subscribe to any Caller ID service. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.