HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
SOUTH HILO PATROL DIVISION
OFFICER AUBREY AUNA
PHONE: 961-2213
JANUARY 20, 2004

MEDIA RELEASE UPDATE

Hilo police have renewed a request for the public’s help in identifying the driver of a pickup truck that was involved in a hit-and-run traffic collision with two pedestrians in December.

The collision occurred about 8:44 p.m. on December 12, 2003, on Kinoole Street near the Hilo Lanes bowling alley.

Police determined that two female pedestrians, aged 50 and 57, were attempting to walk across Kinoole Street when they were struck by the pickup truck, which was traveling north. The driver of the pickup fled from the scene and was last seen traveling north on Kinoole.

After hitting the pedestrians, the suspected vehicle may have stopped at a Chevron service station at the corner of Kinoole and Haili Streets.

The pickup truck was described as being a late 1990’s Toyota dark blue or black in color with the letters “TRD” on its left side. The truck had a large rectangular cooler and two paint or drywall buckets in the back.

The driver of the truck was described as a local male in his thirties and having a dark complexion. The passenger was described as a local male, also in his thirties.

On the night of the accident, the two female pedestrians were taken to the Hilo Medical Center. They were later flown to Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu subsequently released from the hospital.

Anyone with information about the accident or the identity of the driver is asked to call Officer Aubrey Auna of the South Hilo Patrol at 961-2213 or the police non-emergency number at 935-3311.

Those who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona. The numbers are answered 24 hours a day. Callers will be given a coded number and their identity will remain anonymous. Callers may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 if their call leads to an arrest, indictment or the recovery of property. Crime Stoppers neither subscribes to “Caller ID,” nor does it record phone calls.

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