3-12-24 Hilo Man Arrested Following Traffic Collision on Wainaku Bridge

Hawai‘i Police Department
Hilo Patrol
Captain Brian Prudencio
Phone: (808) 935-3311
Report No.: 24-023992

Media Release

Hawai‘i Island police arrested and charged a 27-year-old Hilo man as part of their investigation of a traffic collision that occurred on the Wainaku Street bridge in Hilo just after midnight on Tuesday, March 12, 2024.

Responding to a report of a single-vehicle traffic collision, Hilo patrol officers arrived on scene and discovered an unoccupied 2005 Honda Pilot sports utility vehicle that had struck the concrete reinforced bridge railing and sustained heavy front-end damage. Officers conducted area checks looking for the driver to no avail.

Due to the collision, a section of the bridge railing was severed. County of Hawai‘i Department of Public Works Highway Division staff where contacted and responded to the scene. They determined that the bridge needed to be closed indefinitely until an inspection of the structural integrity of the bridge is conducted.

Later Tuesday morning, 27-year-old Austin Dasalla-Iriarte contacted police and attempted to report that the vehicle had been stolen, however, investigating officers were able to determine that he was involved in the vehicle collision.    

On Tuesday afternoon, officers charged Dasalla-Iriarte with the following offenses:

• False reporting to law enforcement authorities

• Accidents involving damage to vehicle or property

• Driving without a valid driver’s license

• No motor vehicle insurance

• Inattention to driving

His bail was set at $5,300, and he remains in custody at the East Hawai‘i Detention Center.

Police ask anyone who may have additional information on this traffic collision to call the police department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.