Navy family’s 5-year-old fatally struck by garbage truck

A Navy family new to Hawaii is coping with the loss of their 5-year-old daughter, who was struck and killed Wednesday by a garbage truck backing up at Aliamanu Military Reservation, according to police and a fundraising effort for the family.

The Medical Examiner’s Office identified the girl as Preslee Dulaney.

Police said a garbage truck operated by a 30-year-old man was picking up trash bins on Naio Lane at about 3:12 p.m. As the truck was reversing out of the roadway toward Ironwood Loop, a witness saw the child later identified as Dulaney riding her bicycle out of her driveway toward the truck.

Police said the garbage truck struck the girl. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Lt. James Slayter with the Honolulu Police Department’s Vehicular Homicide Section, said that when the garbage truck was backing out the driver did not see the girl riding her bicycle in the cul-de-sac.

Slayter said that when police arrived, the family and military authorities were there.

“I can’t imagine a worse loss for anyone to suffer than losing their child,” Slayter said Thursday. “I got 22-plus years of service, and that’s one of the worse ones to go to — anything with a kid.”

A military chaplain was assisting the family. The Navy chose not to issue a statement.

Meal Train donations for the family were set up at mealtrain.com/trains/n740gd/donate/. The crowdsourcing site seeks to provide meals or financial help to individuals in need.

“This is the meal train for the family who lost their little girl (Wednesday) night in our community,” Meagan Mooney wrote on Facebook. “I know most of my friends don’t live here to deliver a meal, but if there is any way you could help with a monetary donation or give this a quick share, it would be most appreciated. This is a fellow Navy family who is new to the island. Hearts are broken all over the place.”

Organizer Destiny Hylton wrote: “I’m not sure what costs they may endure or if this will be more than enough to help them. All I know is that we are all here to give them our support and remind them that even so far away from what they call home, they are not alone.”

The goal was to raise $1,000. As of Thursday night, over $3,000 had been received by over 30 people. Aliamanu Military Reservation housing is run by Island Palm Communities.