For his dogged persistence and attention to detail investigating an eight-car traffic collision in South Kona that injured five people, the Kona Crime Prevention Committee (KCPC) honored Kona Patrol Officer Andrew Walters as Officer of the Month for August 2024 during a ceremony on August 7, in Kona.

At 10:42 a.m. on February 23, 2024, Officer Walters responded to a report of a motor vehicle collision involving an undetermined number of vehicles, on Māmalahoa Highway, (Highway 11) in Captain Cook, near the 108-mile marker.

Prior to officers arriving on scene, Central Dispatch relayed that they had received three reckless driver calls prior to the collision and the description of the vehicle driving recklessly matched the description of one of the vehicles involved in the collision.

Upon arrival, Officer Walters discovered that the scene spanned about one-tenth of a mile with vehicle wreckage strewn across the roadway and disabled vehicles scattered along the highway. He located a full-size pickup truck and determined that it was the cause of the collision. After examining the scene, the positioning of the wreckage, combined with paint transfer on the vehicles and the roadway, the series of events was learned.

It was determined that the pickup truck was traveling south on Highway 11, approaching the 108-mile marker when it struck a compact sedan also traveling south on Highway 11. The force of the impact caused the compact sedan to strike three parked vehicles, two of which were occupied by a total of nine people.

The pickup truck then overturned, careened south on Highway 11, and smashed into two other vehicles that were parked on the west side of the roadway. The force from the pickup truck’s impact pushed one of the parked cars into another vehicle, causing damages. The pickup truck skidded down a 10-foot embankment. In all, it caused an eight-vehicle collision. Five people were transported to the hospital, one of whom suffered serious bodily injuries. Officer Walters located the driver of the pickup truck and arrested him without incident.

Officer Walters worked diligently interviewing witnesses who observed the pickup truck driving recklessly prior to the collision. He also canvassed establishments in the area and obtained video surveillance of the pickup truck driving south on Highway 11. Officer Walters later tracked down another witness who presented him with crucial evidence that proved the suspect intentionally caused the collision.

While in police custody, the suspect attempted to escape from the facility but was thwarted by Officer Walters’ quick response. The officer worked tirelessly drafting two search warrants to further the investigation and provide the County Prosecutors’ Office with a thorough and complete investigation. The suspect was charged with numerous offenses and ultimately charged with:

• Reckless driving
• No motor vehicle insurance policy
• First-degree negligent injury
• First-degree assault
• Two counts of second-degree assault
• Two counts of second-degree reckless endangering
• First-degree terroristic threatening
• Two counts of first-degree criminal property damage
• Second-degree criminal property damage
• Second-degree attempted escape

Without Officer Walters’ persistence, attention to detail, hard work, and dedication, this investigation would not have had such a positive outcome and the suspect would not be held responsible for his egregious actions.