HONOLULU (AP) — A fireworks explosion at a large New Year’s Day gathering on the Hawaiian island of Oahu has left one woman dead and a man critically injured, authorities said. ADVERTISING HONOLULU (AP) — A fireworks explosion at a
HONOLULU (AP) — A fireworks explosion at a large New Year’s Day gathering on the Hawaiian island of Oahu has left one woman dead and a man critically injured, authorities said.
The pair had been lighting illegal fireworks at the gathering when the explosion happened, police said.
Emergency personnel arrived just after midnight Sunday at the Campbell Industrial Park in Kapolei to find the two victims injured. The 38-year-old woman was taken to a hospital in critical condition and died from her injuries. The 36-year-old man remains in critical condition.
Police have opened an unattended death and prohibited explosive device investigation, but no one has been arrested or cited. Honolulu Police Department spokeswoman Sarah Yoro said Monday no further information was being released at this time.
Honolulu’s Emergency Medical Services said the woman’s death was among dozens of other fireworks-related incidents over the weekend. The agency responded to 28 calls within the first hour of 2017.
Many people in Hawaii celebrate the new year by setting off fireworks. Firecrackers may be bought and used with a permit on Oahu, but many other types of fireworks that people set off are illegal.
The Honolulu Fire Department also had a busy weekend, Fire Capt. Kevin Mokulehua said.
“The Honolulu Fire Department responded to 19 fireworks-related incidents which doubled last year’s incident totals,” Mokulehua said. “Most of the incidents were wildland fires, some structure fires and other miscellaneous fires.”
