A Hilo man, 52, was arrested today on suspicion of first-degree negligent injury when he allegedly struck a Hawaii island police officer with his SUV in the early morning.

The on-duty police officer, 27, was reportedly struck while she was assisting a motorist whose vehicle was stalled near the intersection of Kekuanaoa Street and Kanoelehua Avenue in Hilo, according to a news release.

At 5:33 a.m., a man driving a 2023 Subaru Forester traveling east on Kekuanoa Street reportedly struck the officer who was in the westbound left-turn lane. The officer with four years with the department had suffered head injuries and rib fractures from the collision. She was transported to the Hilo Benioff Medical Center, where she is in guarded condition.

The uninjured driver was arrested at the scene a

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