Police identify woman fatally electrocuted in Pahoa

Big Island police Thursday identified the woman who was fatally electrocuted Tuesday night in Hawaiian Beaches.

The victim was identified as 58-year-old Cindy Lehuanani Gonsalves-Pascual of Pahoa, according to the Hawaii Police Department. An autopsy performed on Wednesday morning concluded Gonsalves-Pascual died as a result of severe electrocution injuries, and the manner of death was ruled accidental.

Gonsalves-Pascual and a 59-year-old man were seated in a parked vehicle in the 15-2700 block of Oopu Street when a portion of a tree fell onto the power lines causing the energized lines to fall and come into contact with the roof of the vehicle and nearby surrounding foliage, according to police.

Police said the downed lines continued to arc on the roof of the vehicle. The man exited the vehicle by climbing through a rear tailgate window that had been previously removed and exited without incident.

The woman then attempted to exit the vehicle through the same tailgate window and subsequently fell on a galvanized gate that was directly behind the vehicle. As she fell she came into contact with the fence, as well as the vehicle, and was electrocuted, police said.

Detectives with the Area I Criminal Investigation Section are continuing this investigation, which is classified as a public accident and coroner’s inquest.

Anyone who may have witnessed the accident or who has information about the incident should contact Lt. Rio Amon-Wilkins of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2252 or via email at rio.amon-wilkins@Hawaiicounty.gov or call the police department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311.