The Hawai‘i County Police Department identified the pedestrian killed in a traffic collision in Hilo on August 2, 2025, as 43-year-old Caesare Brown. 

Brown was struck by a 2013 Toyota Corolla driven by 56-year-old Robester Annes while crossing Kuawa Street outside 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 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. Following Brown’s death, police reclassified the investigation from negligent injury to negligent homicide. At this time, police believe that alcohol and inattention were factors in the crash.

Police ask anyone with information regarding this collision to contact Officer Johnathan Rapoza at (808) 961-2339 or via email at Johnathan.Rapoza@hawaiipolice.gov.