Police have initiated an attempted murder investigation following an alleged vehicular assault late Sunday afternoon in Kalapana.
At about 4:30 p.m., officers responded to the intersection of Kalapana-Kapoho Beach Road and Ole Ole Street on the report of a disturbance. Upon arrival, officers were told that a man had stolen a car from a driveway, returned several minutes later and struck a 28-year-old woman with the car. The man then allegedly stole a pickup truck from a passerby who stopped to render aid to the woman.
The suspect, identified as 36-year-old Thomas Ryan Kilborn of Pahoa, was found with the stolen pickup truck several miles away from the initial scene, and apprehended after a short foot pursuit.
The victim was taken by ambulance to the Hilo Medical Center emergency room with life-threatening injuries. She was later flown to The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu, where she remains in critical condition.
Police detectives continue to investigate, and by law have until 48 hours after the arrest to charge Kilborn or release him pending further investigation.
Police are seeking potential witnesses and ask anyone with information to call the department’s nonemergency number at 935-3311 or Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.