Man indicted for murder for running over 64-year-old with white van in Hilo

A Hilo Grand Jury indicted a 70-year-old man on Wednesday for murder by running over a 64-year-old man with his van in Hilo.

Robert Bradshaw, 70, with no permanent address, was slated to appear in Hilo District Court for a preliminary hearing on the fatal incident that occurred earlier this month. However, with the filing of the indictment, the case is automatically moved to 3rd Circuit Court. An arraignment date has not been set yet.

Bradshaw, who is a convicted felon from firearm offenses in California in January 1997, remains in custody with bail set at $500,000.

The case stems from an incident on Nov. 8 that occurred in the commuter parking lot of Mo‘oheau Park at the intersection of Kamehameha Avenue and Pauahi Street.

When Hawai‘i Island police arrived on scene, they discovered the victim lying bloodied on the pavement with visible injuries to both legs, with one obviously broken, according to a probable cause statement filed in Hilo District Court.

Officers also discovered a tire impression on his body. The victim was taken to Hilo Benioff Medical Center for treatment, where he was later pronounced dead.

Officers spoke to a witness that morning who reported she was standing near her vehicle in the commuter parking when she saw Bradshaw approach the reported victim who was near the trunk of his vehicle.

The witness stated that Bradshaw was armed with a knife and said something to the effect of: “I’m going ot kil you.”

According to the witness, Bradshaw started a physical struggle with the victim.

The witness intervened and managed ot wrestle the knife away from Bradshaw, suffering several superficial cuts to both hands during the struggle.

While the witness stated she managed to disarm Bradshaw, the fight continued between the two men.

Following the fight, Bradshaw got in his white van and “intentionally drove toward [the victim], striking and dragging him approximately five to 10 feet,” according to the probable cause statement.

Bradshaw fled the area east on Kamehameha Avenue. Officers located him along Bayfront Highway in his vehicle, sitting on the driver’s side floorboard, bleeding from his head and hands.

According to the probable cause statement, the victim’s vehicle was also parked by the canoe club and was found with heavy damage to the passenger side, including a sheared-off rear passenger door consistent with a broadside impact.

“Bradshaw spontaneously stated that he had approached a male intending ot throw urine on him, but fell and was then attacked by a male and two females,” court documents indicate. “He claimed that he subsequently entered his van and drove off, unsure if he had struck anything.”

Police recovered Bradshaw’s 16-passenger Ford E-350 Econoline van and found impact damage to the passenger side, blood on the hood, grill and quarter panel, as well as blood on the undercarriage and both axles.

“A bloodied handprint was also visible on the driveshaft,” court documents indicate.