Hawaiʻi Police Department
Traffic Enforcement Unit, Area I
Sergeant Christopher D. Gali
Phone: 961-2332
Report No. C16014517
Media Release (update)
Hawaiʻi Island police are seeking witnesses to a fatal vehicle-pedestrian collision Friday (May 27) at the Keaʻau Transfer Station.
In response to an 11:13 a.m. call Friday, officers determined that 78-year-old Gary S. Ambrose of Keaʻau was facing west at a trash shoot to dump garbage when he was struck by a 1990 Dodge van being operated by 66-year-old Perla Whitehawk-Taylor of Hilo.
Ambrose was taken to Hilo Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 2:40 p.m.
Whitehawk-Taylor was arrested on suspicion of first-degree negligent homicide and driving under the influence and then released pending further investigation.
Police ask anyone who witnessed the collision to call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311 or contact Officer Casey Cabral at 961-8889 or casey.cabral@hawaiicounty.gov.
Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300.