Police Investigating Traffic Incident That Resulted in Death of Elderly Waimea Man

Hawai‘i Island police are investigating a chain of events stemming from a traffic incident that resulted in the death of an elderly Waimea man several days after the initial crash. The man has been identified as 84-year old Colin Perry of Waimea.  

On Sunday, December 15, 2024, at 12:42 p.m., Hāmākua Patrol officers responded to a vehicle collision along a gravel road to the north of the intersection of Mamane Street and Māmalahoa Highway, (Highway 19). It was reported that Perry was driving his 2016 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck when the front left corner of the truck struck the rear of a 2005 Honda Pilot that was parked and unattended.

Officers learned that Perry exited his truck, which ended up rolling backwards, pinning him between the driver’s side of his vehicle and the rear of the Honda Pilot. Perry was able to free himself from between the vehicles and bystanders were able to prevent the truck from moving any further. 

Hawai‘i Fire Department medical personnel transported Perry to the North Hawaii Community Hospital for internal injuries, where he was stabilized, but in critical condition. Perry was later flown to Queens Medical Center on Oahu for further treatment. On Tuesday, January 7, 2025, police were able to confirm that Perry died on December 20, 2024, at 2:18 p.m. on Oahu.

As of December 31, 2024, there 26 fatal crashes resulting in 29 fatalities on Hawai‘i Island.Because this incident occurred on private property, it is considered a non-traffic fatality. When including this most recent tragic incident there were two non-traffic (not on a public roadway) fatalities in 2024, compared with one non-traffic fatalities in 2023.

The Area I Traffic Enforcement Unit is continuing this investigation. Police ask anyone who may have witnessed the collision to contact Officer Jerome Duarte at (808) 961-2339, or via email at Jerome.Duarte@hawaiicounty.gov.