A seven-year-old boy was injured and a 71-year-old man was arrested for negligent injury on Thursday afternoon, September 5, 2024, after the elderly man unintentionally drove his car toward a Hilo residence, crashing into the living room.

Shortly after 6:00 p.m., Hawai‘i Island police responded to a reported traffic crash at a residence in the 1200-block of Kaumana Drive in Hilo. Arriving officers determined that the man, later identified as Wayne Okutsu of Hilo, was visiting an acquaintance and parked his vehicle fronting the home. It appears that as he was about to leave the residence, he unintentionally drove his vehicle toward the residence, striking the child and crashing through the residence.

The child was transported by medics to the Hilo Benioff Medical Center and diagnosed with substantial injuries, and is listed in stable condition. No other injuries were reported during this incident.

The vehicle involved was recovered as evidence as part of the ongoing investigation. Okutsu was arrested for first-degree negligent injury. He is being held at the East Hawaii Detention Facility pending additional investigation.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the police department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311.