MEDIA RELEASE

Hawaiʻi Island police are seeking witnesses to a fatal vehicle-pedestrian collision Friday (May 27) at the Keaʻau Transfer Station.

In response to an 11:13 a.m. call Friday, officers determined that 78-year-old Gary S. Ambrose of Keaʻau was facing west at a trash shoot to dump garbage when he was struck by a 1990 Dodge van being operated by 66-year-old Perla Whitehawk-Taylor of Hilo.

Ambrose was taken to Hilo Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 2:40 p.m.

Whitehawk-Taylor was arrested on suspicion of first-degree negligent homicide and driving under the influence and then released pending further investigation.

Police ask anyone who witnessed the collision to call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311 or contact Officer Casey Cabral at 961-8889 or casey.cabral@hawaiicounty.gov.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300.