Police investigating pedestrian fatality in Kea‘au
Hawaii Island police are investigating a traffic collision that occurred Friday evening in Kea‘au involving a vehicle and a pedestrian that left a man dead.
At 8:34 p.m. Friday, Puna patrol officers responded to report from a passerby of an individual lying on the ground in the Hilo-bound (north) section of Highway 11, between Highway 139 and Old Volcano Road intersections. When officers located the individual, he was unresponsive with apparent deformities to his lower extremities.
The man was transported to the Hilo Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 11:07 p.m. The victim is unknown at this time, pending identification and notification of next of kin.
Police investigators determined that an unknown vehicle traveling Hilo bound on Highway 11 struck the pedestrian who was pushing a shopping cart in the vicinity of the right shoulder and the Number 2 lane of the highway. It was noted that the pedestrian was wearing dark clothing, the area was not very well lit, and the roadway was wet at the time of the collision.
During the investigation, police received a call from a man, later identified as 60-year-old Peter Savage of Mountain View, who stated he was possibly the person that struck the pedestrian with his vehicle. Savage was operating a 2003 Honda Pilot SUV, which front-end damage consistent with the crash.
Savage was arrested on suspicion of second-degree negligent homicide and other offenses, but was released pending further investigation.
Anyone who may have witnessed the collision or who has information should contact Officer Jerome Duarte at (808) 961-2339 or via email at Jerome.Duarte@HawaiiCounty.gov. Those who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.
This is the 33rd fatal traffic crash of 2022 compared to 22 fatal traffic crashes in 2021.
