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Pickup Crashes Through a Hilo Storefront, Injuring Six: How Insurance Handles a Car That Hits a Building

By AutoInsuranceBundle.pro · Published October 29, 2026

Most people think of car crashes as something that happens between vehicles on a road. Yet vehicles regularly end up inside buildings, often in parking lots where cars park nose-in toward a storefront. When that happens, the insurance questions shift from bumpers and fenders to plate glass, store fixtures, and injured shoppers.

What happened in Hilo

On Thursday afternoon, October 1, 2026, at about 3:55 p.m., a 2012 Toyota Tacoma pickup crashed through the glass storefront of a Longs Drugs store at Prince Kūhiō Plaza in Hilo, according to the Hawaiʻi Police Department. The truck struck patrons and store fixtures before stopping inside the business.

Six people inside, ranging in age from 24 to 76, were injured. Four were treated at the scene and released; two were taken to Hilo Benioff Medical Center and later released in stable condition. The driver was evaluated by medics and was not injured. Police opened a second-degree negligent injury investigation, which was ongoing at the time of the department's release. The police account does not state a cause, and we won't speculate about one.

Source: Police Investigate Vehicle Collision Into Drug Store in Hilo; Six Injured, Hawaiʻi Police Department, October 2, 2026. Basic facts are summarized from that report; this explainer is our own writing.

The insurance picture when a car hits a building

A crash like this involves several kinds of loss at once:

• The building: glass, doors, framing, and possibly structural damage.
• The business's contents and income: shelving, merchandise, and lost sales while the store is closed or partly closed.
• The people inside: customers and employees with injuries.
• The vehicle itself.

Property damage liability

The driver's property damage liability coverage is what typically pays for damage the driver causes to someone else's property, including a building. Hawaii's minimum property damage liability limit is $10,000, according to the Insurance Information Institute. A commercial storefront repair can easily exceed that. Once the limit is used up, the property owner's own commercial insurer may pay under its policy and then try to recover the rest from the driver personally.

That's one of the clearest real-world arguments for carrying property damage liability well above the state minimum. Cars are expensive to repair, but buildings, utility poles, and commercial vehicles can be much more expensive.

Injuries in a no-fault state

Hawaii is one of the states with a no-fault system for auto injuries. Under no-fault, personal injury protection (PIP) pays medical expenses after a crash regardless of who caused it, and the right to sue for pain and suffering is limited unless an injury meets a threshold set under state law. In general, injured people in a no-fault state turn first to PIP benefits, and depending on the state's rules, that may mean their own auto policy, a household member's policy, or the policy on the vehicle involved. When no PIP applies, health insurance plays a larger role.

Employees hurt on the job are generally covered by workers' compensation, which may later seek reimbursement from the auto insurer.

Our explainer on at-fault vs. no-fault states covers how these systems differ.

The driver's own vehicle

Damage to the truck itself is a collision claim, if the owner carries collision coverage. Without it, the owner pays for their own repairs.

What to do if a vehicle damages your home or business

1. Call 911 and make sure everyone is out of danger. A building may be unsafe after impact.
2. Don't move the vehicle unless emergency responders direct it. It may be supporting part of the structure.
3. Photograph and video the damage inside and out, and keep damaged items until an adjuster has seen them.
4. Get the driver's and owner's information and their insurer, plus the police report number.
5. Notify your own property or business insurer and open a claim with the driver's auto insurer.
6. Track lost income and extra expenses, such as boarding up or temporary security.
7. Get medical care if you were hurt, and keep records.

If you are the driver

• Stay at the scene, check on injured people, and call 911.
• Notify your auto insurer right away. A crash with multiple injured people and building damage can lead to claims well beyond policy limits.
• Don't discuss fault or causes publicly or on social media.
• If there is a police investigation, many people consult an attorney.

Common mistakes after a storefront crash

• Carrying minimum property damage limits without thinking about what you could hit.
• Assuming the driver's insurer will handle everything. Building owners and businesses usually need to involve their own insurers too.
• Cleaning up before documenting. Insurers need to see the damage.
• Not checking whether injured customers have PIP through their own auto policies in a no-fault state.

Are your liability limits ready for an expensive mistake?

Most drivers set liability limits once and forget them. A licensed agent can show you what higher bodily injury and property damage limits cost and compare options from multiple carriers. One free call: (888) 217-5854.

FAQ

Does auto insurance pay if a car hits a building?

Yes, typically through the driver's property damage liability coverage, up to its limits. The building owner's property insurance may also respond.

What if the damage is more than the driver's limit?

The property owner or their insurer can usually seek the rest from the driver personally. Higher limits or an umbrella policy can protect drivers from that exposure.

Who pays medical bills for shoppers hurt inside a store?

It depends on the state. In no-fault states like Hawaii, PIP coverage generally pays first. Health insurance and liability claims can also be involved.

Does homeowners insurance cover a car crashing into my house?

Generally, homeowners insurance can cover damage to the house, and your insurer may then recover from the driver's auto insurer. Check your policy and deductible.

Important: This article is general information, not legal, tax, or insurance advice, and coverage rules vary by state, insurer, and policy. AutoInsuranceBundle.pro is a free, independent insurance comparison and referral service. We are not an insurance company, we do not issue policies, and we do not provide insurance advice. Calls to the number on this site are routed to licensed insurance agents or agencies in our partner network, who may receive compensation. Calling is completely voluntary and there is no obligation to buy. Rates, discounts, and availability vary by carrier, state, and individual eligibility; not all carriers, products, or discounts are available in all states. Calls may be recorded for quality and compliance purposes.