A traffic collision occurred Sunday evening at one of Hilo’s busiest intersections after an on-duty police officer ran a red light, police said Monday.
Assistant Police Chief Henry Tavares said Hilo Patrol Officer Gibson Kahele was driving south, in the Puna-bound direction, on Kanoelehua Avenue, failed to stop at a traffic signal, and collided “with the other vehicle traveling east on Makaala Street, through the intersection.”
The crash occurred about 5:40 p.m., Tavares said. The intersection is adjacent to Prince Kuhio Plaza, Waiakea Center, Orchid Isle Auto Center and Hopaco.
Kahele, 23, of Hilo was uninjured in the crash. The other driver, June Dela Cruz, 43, of Hilo, was treated and released for minor injuries, Tavares said.
“Right now, the police department is conducting an inquiry into the incident,” Tavares said. He said Kahele, who has been with the department about two years, was on patrol but wasn’t responding to a call at the time of the collision.
“His blue light was not activated, and his siren was not on,” Tavares said. Tavares said even if Kahele had activated his blue light and siren, “that does not give the officer the right of way.”
“Even with the blue light and siren, the officer still must yield the right-of-way to traffic that has the green light,” he said.
Tavares said Kahele and other officers “were looking for a vehicle that may have been involved in (a) crime.” Kahele was not cited for running the red light, Tavares said.
A police log lists the crash as a major traffic accident, which means there was more than $3,000 in damage to the vehicles.
The subsidized Chevrolet Camaro driven by Kahele sustained front-end damage, while Dela Cruz’s Toyota SUV sustained damage to the driver’s side. Both vehicles were towed from the scene, Tavares said.
Kahele remains on duty during the department’s review, Tavares said. He said drugs and alcohol are not suspected, and Kahele was not administered a sobriety test.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
