79-year-old Kea‘au man dies after being struck by van in driveway

A 79-year-old Kea‘au man is dead after being struck by a van Sunday morning in the driveway at a home in Pāhoa.

The victim was identified as George D. Coit.

The Hawai‘i Police Department Area I Traffic Enforcement Unit is investigating the single-vehicle collision as a negligent homicide.

Officers responding to an 11:55 a.m. call determined that a 50-year-old Kea‘au man was driving a white 2008 Ford Econoline van when he struck Coit in the driveway at the home in the 15-2700 block of Maiko Street.

Coit was transported to Hilo Benioff Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 3:40 p.m.

The driver of the van was uninjured.

Police do not think alcohol and/or drugs were factors in the collision.

Anyone who might have information about this collision can contact Officer Johnathan Rapoza at 808-961-2339 or via email at johnathan.rapoza@hawaiicounty.gov.

Hawai‘i Police Department reports this collision is not counted as a fatality for statistical purposes because it did not happen on a public roadway.