A week after the passing of one of Big Island Trucker communities’ own. Hawaii Police Department has released the name of the victim as 62-year-old Allen Y.L. Kealoha, of Pahoa.
For the past week, fellow Truckers have sounded their horns in remembrance and honor as they pass the spot where Kealolas accident happened. A memorial has been erected by family and friends of Kealoha.
On Wednesday, August 24, 2022, at 6:20 a.m., South Hilo patrol officers responded to the Puainako extension near the 3 mile-marker for a report of a male that had reportedly been struck by a vehicle. Responding officers later determined that the victim had stopped his commercial flatbed delivery truck on the side of the road just above the entrance to the Hilo Hillside subdivision. It’s believed the vehicle may have experienced mechanical issues, and that the driver was securing his cargo. Investigators believe the delivery driver was subsequently struck by his own vehicle.
Witnesses reported seeing another vehicle with two male occupants in the area around the same time. Kealohas family has outreached to the community for anyone who may have witnessed or knows anything to come forward and contact them.
The Kealoha was transported to the Hilo Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead.
Area I Criminal Investigation Division and Area I Traffic Enforcement Unit personnel responded to the scene and are continuing this investigation, which is currently classified as a coroner’s inquest.
An autopsy was performed, and based on the known circumstances in this investigation, the forensic pathologist ruled the death as accidental. The final autopsy report is pending.
Police are asking for anyone with information on this incident or who may have been in the area of the Puainako Street extension on the morning of Wednesday, August 24, between 6:00 and 6:20 a.m., to contact the police department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-331. They can also contact Detective Blaine Morishita of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2385 or email him at Blaine.Morishita@hawaiicounty.gov.
Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the island-wide Crime Stoppers number at (808) 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.00. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers does not record calls or subscribe to any Caller ID service. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.