HILO (KHON2) — An officer with the Hawaiʻi Police Department is in the hospital after being hit by a car while helping a stranded motorist.
Around 5:33 a.m., a 52-year-old male was driving east on Kekuanaoa St. when they hit a HPD officer who was helping a motorist in a stalled vehicle in the west-bound left-turn lane.
The victim, a 27-year-old female officer and 4-year veteran of the department, suffered head injuries and rib fractures.
Now, the officer is currently undergoing close observation at Hilo Banioff Medical Center.
The driver who hit the officer remained at the scene and was arrested for first-degree negligent injury but released pending further investigation. Due to the seriousness of the officer’s injuries, HPD is conducting an administrative investigation.
“This incident underscores the dangers our officers face each day while working to protect and serve our community,” said Interim Police Chief Reed Mahuna. “We remain committed to supporting our injured officer as she recovers and remind all motorists to slow down and move over when they see emergency personnel on our roadways.”
HPD says that they don’t believe that alcohol or narcotics were involved.