A tragic incident occurred on a quiet residential driveway in Pāhoa yesterday morning, leaving a community mourning the loss of an elderly local. George D. Coit, a 79-year-old man from Kea‘au, succumbed to injuries after being struck by a van in the driveway of a home on Maiko Street. According to a report from the Hawaii Police Department, Coit was rushed to the Hilo Benioff Medical Center after the collision but was later pronounced deceased at 3:40 p.m.
The incident, which did not take place on public roads, has prompted the Area I Traffic Enforcement Unit to officially begin an investigation for negligent homicide. The driver of the white 2008 Ford Econoline van, a 50-year-old man from Kea‘au, was found unharmed. Initial assessments by the police suggest that neither alcohol nor drugs are to likely have played a role in this tragic event. Anyone who might be able to offer additional insight into the collision is encouraged to directly reach out to Officer Johnathan Rapoza through his email or contact number, as stated in the police report.
This event, while heartrending, will not be reflected in the public roadway fatality statistics due to its occurrence on private property. The nature of these statistics is to count fatalities stemming from collisions on public roadways, not within private residences. Nonetheless, the impact on the families involved and the local community is no less devastating.
The need for caution persists, even in the assumed safety of a home driveway. As the investigation continues, further details may emerge to fully understand the events that led to the death of George D. Coit.
