A 78-year-old man died Friday after being struck by a van at the Keaau transfer station.
A 78-year-old man died Friday after being struck by a van at the Keaau transfer station.
Gary S. Ambrose of Keaau was dumping garbage at a trash chute when the van hit him, police said. He was pronounced dead at Hilo Medical Center.
Ambrose was reportedly pinned between the vehicle and chute, according to a Hawaii Fire Department press release.
Medics arrived at the scene at 11:21 a.m. Fire officials said Ambrose had partially amputated legs and lots of blood loss as a result of the collision.
After being released at the hospital, Perla Whitehawk-Taylor, 66, of Hilo was arrested on suspicion of first-degree negligent homicide and driving under the influence. She remains in police custody.
The transfer station was closed for the rest of the day. It will reopen Saturday.
Hawaii County Environmental Management Director Bobby Jean Leithead Todd said transfer workers were on lunch break and didn’t witness the collision.