Posted at 11:17 a.m., Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Hilo man struck by car dies from injuries
Advertiser Staff
HILO, Hawai'i — A homeless Hilo man who was struck by a car as he was walking across a street in downtown Hilo on April 1 died Monday from injuries he suffered in the collision, Big Island police said.George K. Iopa, 57, was walking east across Kino'ole Street at 1:18 a.m. when a southbound car hit him near Mamo Street in Hilo. Police said Iopa was not in a crosswalk.
Iopa was taken to Hilo Medical Center and later transferred to The Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu, where he died at 5:45 a.m. Monday.
An autopsy yesterday confirmed the crash injuries caused Iopa's death. Police said Iopa had an intoxicating level of alcohol in his system at the time of the accident.
Police said the driver, a 59-year-old Volcano man, tested positive for methamphetamine but has not been arrested in connection with the case.
Iopa's death is the 17th traffic fatality on the Big Island this year, compared with 16 at this time last year.
