Body of man found in Hilo ravine is identified
Officials said a body discovered in a Hilo ravine Tuesday is that of Edward Van Kleeck, 84, of Hilo. An autopsy was conducted Friday, the Hawaii County Police Department said.
The cause of death remained undetermined pending further tests, but the Medical Examiner ruled out foul play and determined that Van Kleeck’s injuries were consistent with a fall from a height, police said.
South Hilo police patrol officers found Van Kleek’s body after responding to a report of an unattended vehicle just after 4 p.m. in the upper Kaiwiki Road area. Officers found Volkswagen convertible registered to Van Kleeck, who could not be accounted for.
Police found indications at the scene that Van Kleeck might have been injured. Fire personnel helped search a nearby ravine, aided by the fire department’s helicopter.
At the bottom of the ravine, fire department personnel found the body of an elderly man with injuries. He was taken to Hilo Medical Center, where a doctor pronounced him dead.
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