Hawai‘i Island police arrested and charged 27 year-old Austin Dasalla-Iriarteman following an investigation into a traffic collision that occurred on the Wainaku Street bridge in Hilo. Early Tuesday morning, Hilo patrol officers arrived on scene after receiving a report of a single-vehicle traffic collision. Officers discovered that an unoccupied 2005 Honda Pilot SUV had struck the bridge railing and sustained heavy front-end damage.
Officers conducted area checks but were unable to locate the vehicle’s driver. Due to the collision, a section of the bridge railing was severed. Hawai‘i County Department of Public Works Highway Division staff responded to the scene and determined that the bridge needed to be closed indefinitely until an inspection of the structural integrity of the bridge was conducted. Later that day, 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. 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 information on the incident to call the police department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311.
HPD Photo