Students, faculty and administration at two Hilo schools on Monday remembered a young man whose life was tragically cut short as a result of a weekend automobile collision.
Samuel Mwarey, a 16-year-old junior at Hilo High School who previously attended St. Joseph School, died shortly after midnight Monday at Hilo Medical Center from injuries he suffered after being hit by a blue-and-white police cruiser late Friday night.
Mwarey, a pedestrian, was struck at 10:24 p.m. Friday night on Kapiolani Street, between Mohouli and West Lanikaula streets in Hilo. According to police, Mwarey was wearing dark clothing and was walking in the middle of the roadway and not in a marked crosswalk when he was struck by the 2008 Ford 4-door sedan. At the time of the collision there was minimal lighting in the area and it was raining, police said.
The driver, an 18-year-veteran of the Hawaii Police Department, has been placed on paid administrative leave while the department investigates. The case is classified as a negligent homicide, but the officer wasn’t arrested or charged.
“A lot of the students are in shock trying to process this,” said Jasmine Urasaki, Hilo High School principal. “We had grief counseling for them and for the teachers who need it (on Monday) and counseling will be available (today) as well.
“This is tragic, not only for the school and for his family, but for the community, as well.”
According to Jake Galves, executive assistant at St. Joseph School, Mwarey was an elementary student there prior to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
“It’s really tragic. Some of the kids who remember him were talking about him (Monday) at lunch,” Galves said. “We were talking about Junior Cardinals basketball and some of the kids remembered playing with him on the team.
“Some of them are still in shock that it’s happened.”
Mwarey is also being remembered on social media.
“God has officially gained another angel,” one friend posted. “I just got off the phone with you and you just look so peaceful my boy. Since you fought hard, we’ll definitely be strong for you. Thank you for all the smiles, laughs, memories AND thank you for visiting me in my dreams last night.
“I love you forever Sam … We prayed real hard but god just wanted you to come home to him.”
Mwarey’s sister, Kaitlin Beatty, created a GoFundMe page while her brother was still clinging to life in the hospital to help cover the hospital bill.
“It is heartbreaking, so … I ask from anyone reading this that you share anything you can for his medical expenses,” she said.
As of Monday afternoon, the fundraiser page had raised $6,571 of a $10,000 goal. The page can be found online at https://www.gofundme.com/f/qjsxf-please-help.
According to police, the officer wasn’t in emergency response mode when the collision occurred, but did have the cruiser’s blue pilot light illuminated.
At this time, police believe that speed was not a factor in the crash.
Mwarey’s death is the second traffic fatality of 2024.
Police ask potential witnesses or those who may have information about the collision to call the department’s nonemergency line at (808) 935-3311 or Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.
According to Urasaki, Mwarey, who was listed on the Vikings football roster for this past season was “a really good athlete.”
“What he wanted to do more than anything is to play football,” she said. “But the thing that the students who knew him and his teachers are talking about is his heart. He had a really, really good heart. You interact with thousands of students over the course of your career. … Some are unforgettable.
“Sam was unforgettable.”
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.