HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT UNIT
SERGEANT SAMUEL V. JELSMA
PHONE: 961-2332
OCTOBER 31, 2001
G-85836
MEDIA RELEASE
A 15-year-old boy died Wednesday (October 31, 2001) after he was struck by a vehicle on Kuakini Highway (Route 11) at the Nani-Kailua Drive intersection in Kailua-Kona.
The victim was identified as Erik William Hamar, of a Kailua-Kona address.
Responding to a 6:20 p.m. call, police determined that the victim was trying to cross Kuakini Highway to the mauka side when he was struck by a 1976 Ford Bronco II traveling north on the highway. Witnesses reported that the victim had been in the crosswalk at the Nani-Kailua intersection but was crossing against the light while other juveniles waited for the light to change.
The victim was transported to the Kona Community Hospital, where he later died as a result of his injuries. He was pronounced dead at 6:55 p.m.
The driver of the Bronco, identified as Christian T. Robertson, 34, of Waikoloa, was arrested for negligent homicide, driving under the influence of alcohol and driving without insurance. Neither he nor his passenger, identified as Tanya Strickland, 28, of Kailua-Kona, was injured.
Traffic Enforcement Unit officers are continuing an investigation and have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death. They have identified both DUI and pedestrian error as factors contributing to the accident.
Wednesday’s death was the 23rd traffic fatality so far this year on the Big Island, compared with 31 at the same time last year.
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