A tragic shift in classification has come from the Hawai‘i Island police as an investigation moved from negligent injury to negligent homicide. This Hilo traffic incident, first reported on August 2, 2025, has taken a somber turn with the death of a male pedestrian struck by a vehicle.
The pedestrian, whose identity is yet to be publicly released, was hit on the corner of Kuawa and Manono streets by Robester Annes, 56, of Hilo. Despite attempts to quickly bring the unnamed pedestrian to the medical attention he desperately needed, the injuries sustained were to ultimately prove fatal. After being transported to the Hilo Benioff Medical Center and later flown to Queen’s Medical Center on O‘ahu, he died on September 12, as reported by the Hawai'i Police.
Annes, who was driving a 2013 Toyota Corolla sedan at the time of the incident, initially faced negligent injury and DUI charges. Following the victim's death, those charges are under review. An autopsy has been ordered to pin down the precise cause of death, while the police are continuing their investigation into the incident, according to the same source.
At the crash scene that August night, evidence suggested that alcohol and inattention were contributing factors, police believe. As the community deals with the repercussions of this preventable tragedy, they do so marking the 17th traffic-related death this year, a slight decline from the count of 22 in the previous year at this time.
Hawai‘i law enforcement is urging witnesses or anyone with information to come forward and contact Officer Johnathan Rapoza. Tips can be submitted by phone at (808) 961-2339, by email at [email protected], or through the anonymity of Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.
