Truck kills bicyclist

By TOM CALLIS

Tribune-Herald staff writer

A 20-year-old man died Wednesday after he was hit by a truck while riding a bicycle on Kinoole Street in Hilo.

Police arrested the suspected driver, Alison E. Taylor of Volcano, after stopping her at Palai Street.

According to police, Taylor, 40, fled the scene after colliding with the man, identified by a family friend as Brody Winslow, shortly before 7:29 a.m.

The wreck occurred between Ohea and Puainako streets.

Taylor also allegedly drove into a power pole, which was snapped in two.

The University of Hawaii at Hiloconfirmed that Winslow was a former Hawaii Community College student.

He was transported to Hilo Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 8:16 a.m.

Police declined to issue a name until they could confirm his identity.

Sgt. Christopher Gali said officers suspect Taylor was under the influence of drugs. A mandatory blood draw was conducted.

She was booked into the Hilo police cellblock on suspicion of negligent homicide, accident involving death or serious injury, driving under the influence of intoxicants, failure to render aid, and driving with a suspended license.

Assistant Chief Marshall Kanehailua made the traffic stop after driving past the scene while on his way to work, a police spokeswoman said.

Kanehailua’s vehicle is not equipped with lights and sirens, but Taylor stopped after he displayed his badge, Gali said.

Several nearby residents said they heard a loud bang. By the time they ran outside, the truck had already driven away, leaving a bobbing power pole held only in place by its wires and a motionless man on the pavement.

“I was shocked,” said Jay Dina, 21. “How could that happen?”

Said Joe Wroblewski, “He probably didn’t even know what happened.”

As of noon, crews with the Hawaii Electric Light Co. were working to replace the pole. The block was closed to traffic.

The man’s death was the 10th traffic fatality this year on the Big Island. There were seven at this time last year.