Man Accused of Striking Victim Twice with SUV

A 52-year-old man was being held this morning on $76,000 bail after being accused of striking a man with a sports utility vehicle during a dispute early this month.

Police said the incident began when the suspect was in a discussion with the victim in a parking lot on Hualani Street in Hilo on the night of Feb. 2. The suspect then allegedly drove an SUV into the victim twice before fleeing the scene.

Police said the SUV did not belong to the suspect.

The victim, a 49-year-old Hilo man, sustained serious injuries in the incident. He was transported to The Queen’s Medical Center on Oahu where he remained hospitalized until Tuesday.

Police said their investigation led them to identify the suspect as Clifford P. Marler, who has no permanent address but frequents the Hilo area.

Marler was located Tuesday night and arrested on two bench warrants for contempt of court.

He was charged Wednesday with assault, reckless endangering, car theft, leaving the scene of an accident and failure to render aid.

He was also charged with promoting a dangerous drug and drug paraphernalia in connection with a syringe containing heroin he alleged had in his possession at the time of his arrest.

Marler was being held at Hawaii Community Correctional Center pending an initial court appearance today.