(Update) Police Identify Pedestrian in Hilo Fatal Collision

Hawai‘i Island police have identified the male pedestrian who died following a traffic collision last August in Hilo as 43-year-old Caesare Brown of Hilo.

On August 2, 2025, at 10:04 p.m., police responded to a report of a vehicle striking a pedestrian on Kuawa Street near the intersection with Manono Street. Investigators determined a 2013 Toyota Corolla sedan, operated by 56-year-old Robester Annes, of Hilo, was traveling east on Kuawa Street when it struck a male pedestrian who was in the roadway but not in a marked crosswalk.

Brown was transported to the Hilo Benioff Medical Center and later medevacked to Queen’s Medical Center on Oahu for further treatment. On Friday, Sept. 12, at 10:21 a.m., he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead. An autopsy was ordered to determine the exact cause of death.

Annes was not injured in the crash. He was initially arrested on August 2 for negligent injury and operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant. After conferring with the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, he was released pending further investigation.

Police reclassified the investigation from negligent injury to negligent homicide following Brown’s death.

The East Hawai‘i Traffic Enforcement Unit is continuing the investigation. At this time, police believe that alcohol and inattention were factors in the crash.

Police ask anyone with information regarding this collision to please contact Officer Johnathan Rapoza at (808) 961-2339 or via email at Johnathan.Rapoza@hawaiipolice.gov. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300. This was the 17th traffic fatality of 2025 as compared to 22 traffic fatalities for the same time in 2024.