Police investigate reported accidental death of man as possible homicide
Honolulu police are investigating the reported accidental death of a man Wednesday in Kalihi as a possible homicide.
Officers canvassed the Kalihi neighborhood today where a car was initially reported to have accidentally rolled over the 36-year-old man, causing his death.
Honolulu Police Department homicide Lt. Phillip Lavarias said that HPD’s Vehicular Homicide Section requested homicide detail to assist in investigating the death.
“Evidence was uncovered that leads us to believe this was not a simple motor vehicle collision,” Lavarias said.
Lavarias declined to comment on the evidence, but said detectives are trying to find more evidence.
A security camera at a convenience store caught part of the incident, police said Wednesday.
The city Medical Examiner’s Office identified Thursday the man as Kyen Knowles, 36, of Honolulu.
No cause of death was available Wednesday afternoon.
Police had said on Wednesday that the man tried to park his vehicle on Waterhouse Street near Gulick Avenue at about 5 p.m. and got out.
The sedan began moving in reverse and rolled over the man, police said. The car came to a stop against another vehicle with Knowles pinned underneath.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said the driver left the car in reverse.
The case was reclassified as an unattended death.
15 responses to “Police investigate reported accidental death of man as possible homicide”
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we have to do a better job at “vetting” automobiles. A lot of vehicle accidents injuring and killing human beings.
Yes. Choose your vehicle carefully. This could never happen in a Tesla. Its designed to go into P, when you open your door.
Also safety protocols were not observed. Like you indicate prevent car from rolling in either direction.
I notice the Post Office turn off their vehicles when they leave it. Now it looks like a good idea to do it.
If a person leaves the gear in reverse and walks behind the vehicle, that person is asking for a problem.
Sad sad sad.
“The man attempted to parked his vehicle on Waterhouse Street near Gulick Avenue” Parked? Really?
I wanted my kids to improve their reading and writing by reading the newspaper. I’d better think about this again.
yeah, the SA isn’t exactly known for its grammar and spelling excellence
We must avoid simple actions that can inadvertently become deadly. Some people when parking open their door and lean out to check to see where they are in the space to park more precisely. Don’t ever do this! Others may get out to check how much space behind. Even though it is extra trouble the driver should double check that car is securely in park with parking brake on and turn engine off before opening the door. Be especially careful when parking on hills where the car could roll when getting out. Anything can happen in a freak accident with a driver mistake or mechanical problem. Don’t take any chances when it can be life or death.
SA might have included the make of the car in this story in light of this week’s national coverage of the death of actor Anton Yeltsin, who was crushed by his Jeep after he apparently exited the vehicle, mistakenly thinking it was in park. After more than 100 accidents, Fiat Chrysler, the maker of Jeeps, has recalled 1.1 million vehicles due to a gear selector problem that caused confusion about whether the car was in park.
My Condolence to his family.
in last nights tv news, an bystander want to manually lift the car off the man and was asking for others to help him, but another bystander told him don’t. what was the reason for this, when there is an opportunity to help someone in distress, it should be done. this was really odd. someone should find that guy and ask him why?
probably because good Samaritans get sued left and right nowadays. ever hear the term “no good deed goes unpunished”?
Be very careful everyone. I know of a woman that was killed in her own driveway by her own vehicle in a similar manner many years ago. Put the vehicle in park and use the parking brake. Make it a habit.