HAWAII POLICE DEPARTMENT
TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT UNIT
SERGEANT CHRISTOPHER GALI
PHONE: 961-2332
JUNE 13, 2006
REPORT NO. C06010127

MEDIA RELEASE

An autopsy revealed that a homeless Hilo man died Monday (June 12, 2006) from multiple injuries sustained in an auto-pedestrian accident on April 1.

George K. Iopa, 57, was crossing Kinoole Steet in an easterly direction at 1:18 a.m. when a car traveling south on Kinoole Street hit him just south of Mamo Street in Hilo. Iopa was not in a crosswalk.

Iopa was taken to Hilo Medical Center and later transferred to the Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu. He died at 5:45 a.m. Monday. The autopsy was performed in Honolulu on Tuesday (June 13, 2006).

The driver, a 59-year-old Volcano man, tested positive for methamphetamines but has not been arrested.

Iopa had an intoxicating level of alcohol in his system at the time of the accident.

Traffic Enforcement Unit officers continue to investigate the case, which has been reclassified from a negligent injury to a negligent homicide.

The fatality is the 17th this year, compared with 16 at this time last year.