Hawaiʻi Police Department
Criminal Investigations Section, Area I
Lieutenant Gregory Esteban
Phone: 961-2252
Report No. C13011006
Media Release
Hawaiʻi Island police are investigating a fatal industrial accident in the Puna District on Thursday morning (April 25).
At about 9:14 a.m., police and Hawaiʻi Fire Department medics received a report of an apparent industrial accident at a job site just off Route 11 near the North Kulani Road intersection in Mountain View.
Responding officers discovered that a 56-year-old man had been inspecting the electrical system for a newly installed water tank when he apparently was electrocuted from the energized system. A 51-year-old Honokaʻa man, who was working nearby, attempted to assist the victim. He was able to de-energize the electrical system but not before sustaining minor injuries from exposure to electrical current.
The victim was taken to Hilo Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 10:32 a.m.
Detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigations Section are conducting further investigation into this incident, which is classified as an industrial accident and a coroner’s inquest.
Police are awaiting positive identification and notification of the next of kin before releasing the name of the victim.
An autopsy is scheduled for Friday morning (April 26) to determine the exact cause of death.