Police identify pedestrian who died following August 2025 crash in Hilo

Hawai‘i Police Department identified the man who was struck by a vehicle and later died following an August traffic crash in Hilo.

The victim was 43-year-old Caesare Brown of Hilo.

Police responded just after 10 p.m. Aug. 2, 2025, to a report of a vehicle striking a pedestrian on Kuawa Street, near the intersection with Manono Street.

Investigators determined a 2013 Toyota Corolla operated by 56-year-old Robester Annes of Hilo was traveling east on Kuawa Street when it struck Brown in the roadway, but not in a marked crosswalk.

Brown was transported to the Hilo Benioff Medical Center and later transported to The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu for further treatment.

He succumbed to his injuries just before 10:30 a.m. Sept. 12, 2025, and was pronounced dead.

An autopsy was ordered to determine his exact cause of death.

Annes was not injured, and he was initially arrested Aug. 2 for negligent injury and operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant.

He was later released, pending further investigation, after police conferred with the Hawai’i County prosecutor’s office.

Police reclassified the investigation from negligent injury to negligent homicide following Brown’s death.

East Hawai‘i Traffic Enforcement Unit is continuing the investigation. Police think alcohol and inattention were factors in the crash.

Anyone with information about this crash is asked to contact Officer Johnathan Rapoza at 808-961-2339 or via email at Johnathan.Rapoza@hawaiipolice.gov.

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

This was the 17th traffic fatality of 2025.