PUNA, HI – Authorities announced the indictment of a Puna man in connection with the death of a pedestrian, according to KITV.
The incident occurred May 16, 2025, on Orchidland Drive near the intersection with 36th Avenue just after 7 p.m.
A police investigation determined that 21-year-old Maxwell Robertson Sherwood of Kea‘au was in the roadway when he was struck by a 2010 Jeep Wrangler heading east on Orchidland Drive. Sherwood died after being taken to an area hospital.
The Jeep driver, identified as 30-year-old Dallas Brooks, was subsequently arrested and has now been indicted by a Hilo grand jury on charges of first-degree negligent homicide and operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant. Prosecutors alleged Brooks was highly intoxicated, making it a class A felony charge.
The Court approved a defense request for supervised release for Brooks. A hearing for further proceedings is scheduled for January 21, 2026.
If a loved one has died due to someone’s negligence, you have legal rights as a surviving family member. When a reckless or an intentional action costs someone their life, the responsible party could owe the family of the victim significant compensation. This will typically be recovered through a wrongful death claim. At Recovery Law Center, our Hawaii wrongful death lawyer can represent your family and seek compensation through a civil lawsuit. Give us a call at (808) 427-3088 or visit our contact page to schedule a free consultation regarding your case.
