Police have identified the Kauai pedestrian who was hit by a car, then run over by a responding police officer.
The death of Michael Kocher Jr., 19, of Hanapepe is the first traffic fatality on Kauai this year.
At about 9:35 p.m. Saturday, police said, Kocher was walking on Kaumualii Highway just east of the Kaumakani Post Office when he was struck by a Toyota Corolla traveling east. The driver of the Toyota remained at the scene.
Kocher was struck a second time by a police officer who was responding to the accident. The officer also was traveling east.
Police said Kocher was presumed dead at the scene. He was later transported to Wilcox Hospital, where he was formally pronounced dead. An autopsy is scheduled to be conducted this week to determine the formal cause of death.
The police officer has been placed on administrative leave pending the investigation.
Friends described Kocher as an outgoing young man with an adventurous spirit. He was sweet, humble and easy to talk to, said Sottrell Ingram, who graduated with Kocher in 2013 from Waimea High School.
He played football and was on the swim team at school. He also enjoyed bodyboarding, hiking, fishing and hunting.
Ingram said he was a loyal friend who was always there for people.
"It’s really heartbreaking," she said during a phone interview from Kauai. "He was more like a brother to me. It’s just sad that one of the humblest people who you know and the one you can rely on is gone."
According to Ingram, Kocher was walking home after visiting friends in Waimea when he was struck Saturday night.
Childhood friend Jennifer Booth said she knew Kocher, a neighbor, since they were students at Eleele Elementary School. They played together and shared an innocent kiss in the second grade, she said.
"He was my first kiss," said Booth.
Booth learned about his death Sunday morning after a friend called her.
"I couldn’t believe it," she said. "I couldn’t wrap my head around it. I was really sad. I started to cry."
Friends have posted messages on social media extending their condolences to Kocher’s family.
Another friend, Paris Garcia, described Kocher as genuine.
"He was fun and somebody you could actually talk to and not feel judged," he said by phone from Kauai.
Friends said he will be best remembered for his free spirit, kindness and humble demeanor. Still in disbelief over his death, Garcia said, "It’s not something you think is going to happen to one of your friends."
