LIHUE — Law enforcement officials have arrested the individual involved in the hit-and-run incident that occurred on Wednesday, Feb. 12, that left a pedestrian in critical condition.
On Thursday, Feb. 13, officers from the Kauai Police Department (KPD) located an unattended vehicle that is believed to be connected to the hit-and-run incident that occurred on Nawiliwili Road.
Later that night at approximately 8:30 p.m., KPD officers located and apprehended the driver of the vehicle and identified him as 54-year-old Salvin Hilario.
Hilario, who is now in custody at the KPD cell block, was arrested on felony charges of: Negligent Injury in the First Degree, Leaving the Scene of a Collision with Serious Bodily Injury, Driving Without a Valid Driver’s License, Reckless Driving, and Inattention to Driving.
The pedestrian he struck on Wednesday night remains in the hospital in critical condition.
Hilario is noted as not having a permanent address; however, he possesses a traffic-related criminal record that extends back eight years.
In the past year, Hilario has been arrested on four separate occasions for traffic-related violations.
Hilario was arrested on Jan. 9, 2024, for Driving Without a Valid Driver’s License and for Driving With No Vehicle Insurance. The case was dismissed with prejudice exactly a year ago on Feb. 14, 2024, and he was ordered to pay a $30 Crime Victim Fee.
He was later arrested on April 17, 2024, for Driving Without A Valid Driver’s License and is due in court next month on that case.
He was then arrested on July 4, 2024, for Driving Without A Valid Driver’s License and for Driving With No Vehicle Insurance. A driver’s license stopper was activated during that case, preventing Hilario from getting or renewing his driver’s license. He was scheduled to appear in court on Friday, February 14, on that case.
Hilario was then arrested again last month, on Jan. 21, for Driving Without A Valid License and for Driving With No Vehicle Insurance. He is due in court next week on that case.
His latest arrest this past Thursday, marked his fifth traffic-related arrest in the last 14 months.
Hilario faced a judge yesterday on Friday, Feb. 14. The judge set Hilario’s bail at $250, and is due back in court in May.
Perhaps we need to arrest some of our leaders who have failed to provide Kauai with safe roads for walkers and bikers when we have serious accidents….. not always the drivers fault…