Police seek suspect in South Kona hit-and-run

Police are seeking a suspect in a possible hit-and-run traffic incident Sunday in South Kona that left an 88-year-old Honaunau man dead.

The victim has been positively identified as Theodore Lai Sr.

Officers responding to a 12:32 p.m. call, police determined that Lai was arguing with a man driving a white pickup truck in the parking lot of the Kealakekua Ranch Center. As the pickup truck drove away, Lai continued to yell at the male driver and was possibly holding on to the truck. At some point, Lai might have been run over, police said. The truck left in an unknown direction. Lai was taken to Kona Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1:43 p.m.

An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.

The suspect vehicle is described as a white 1999-2002 single-cab Chevrolet Silverado 1500 pickup truck with a black tube-type bed rack and silver utility bed tool box. Witnesses at the scene were unable to get a clear description of the man driving the truck.

Police are asking for the public to check their video surveillance between 12:25 p.m. and 12:35 p.m. for any vehicles matching the description. The area of the incident was near the intersection of Mamalahoa Highway and Kiloa Road.

Police have initiated a negligent homicide investigation and are asking potential witnesses to call the police nonemergency line at (808) 935-3311 or Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.