Police are investigating a chain of events stemming from a traffic incident that resulted in the death of an elderly Waimea man several days after the initial crash.
The victim has been identified as 84-year old Colin Perry.
On Dec. 15 at 12:42 p.m., Hamakua Patrol officers responded to a vehicle collision along a gravel road to the north of the intersection of Mamane Street and Mamalahoa Highway (Highway 19). It was reported that Perry was driving his 2016 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck when the front left corner of the truck struck the rear of a 2005 Honda Pilot that was parked and unattended.
Officers learned that Perry exited his truck, which ended up rolling backwards, pinning him between the driver’s side of his vehicle and the rear of the Honda Pilot. Perry was able to free himself from between the vehicles and bystanders were able to prevent the truck from moving any further.
Hawaii Fire Department medical personnel transported Perry to Queen’s North Hawaii Community Hospital for internal injuries, where he was stabilized, but in critical condition. Perry was later flown to The Queens Medical Center on Oahu for further treatment.
On Jan. 7, police confirmed that Perry died on Dec. 20 on Oahu.
As of Dec. 31, there 26 fatal crashes resulting in 29 official traffic fatalities on Hawaii Island. Because this incident occurred on private property, it is considered a non-traffic fatality. When including this most recent tragic incident there were two non-traffic fatalities in 2024, compared with one non-traffic fatality in 2023.
Police continue to investigate, and ask anyone who may have witnessed the collision to contact Officer Jerome Duarte at (808) 961-2339 or Jerome.Duarte@hawaiicounty.gov.
Those who prefer anonymity may call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.