Latest news with #CarmelitaBenigno
USA Today
04-02-2025
- USA Today
More arrests made in Hawaii New Year's Eve fireworks explosion that killed 5 people
More arrests made in Hawaii New Year's Eve fireworks explosion that killed 5 people Show Caption Hide Caption Death toll rises in Hawaii fireworks blast incident The death toll from a fireworks explosion in Hawaii has risen to five, after a man who was receiving treatment in Arizona died. Fox - 10 Phoenix More arrests have been made in the deadly fireworks incident that injured more than 20 and killed five in Honolulu, Hawaii on New Year's Eve. The explosion occurred around midnight during a New Year's celebration in Aliamanu (also known as Salt Lake) when people attending a party lit a firework "cake" containing around 50 individual aerial fireworks that tipped over, shooting into two other crates also filled with cake fireworks, according to Honolulu police. The subsequent explosion injured multiple, killed some and damaged nearby property and vehicles. Two women were pronounced dead on the scene, while another woman, a child and a man later died in the hospital. The five dead were identified by the Honolulu Mayor's Office and Maricopa County Medical Examiner's office as 61-year-old Carmelita Benigno, 58-year-old Nelie Ibarra, 23-year-old Jennifer Van, 3-year-old Cassius Ramos-Benigno and 29-year-old Kevin Vallesteros. In total, 23 adults and three minors were seriously or critically injured and transported to local hospitals. Authorities estimated fireworks recovered at the scene to cost tens of thousands of dollars. More deaths, arrests: Death toll rises to 5 in Hawaii New Year's Eve fireworks explosion, 2 arrested Investigation into firework explosion ongoing The police investigation into the matter has stretched more than three weeks and included the review of surveillance footage, digital evidence and interviews with more than 20 witnesses. Two arrests were made on Jan. 24, four more on Jan. 29 and four more on Jan. 31. All have since been released from custody. The investigation is ongoing as of the latest update on Feb. 1, and the cases of the already arrested will be sent on to the district attorney's office, said Honolulu authorities. Five young people who were transported to the Arizona Burn Center - Valleywise Health in Phoenix in critical condition soon after the explosion remain in medically induced comas and face a long road to recovery ahead, the center's director Dr. Kevin Foster previously told the Arizona Republic, part of the USA TODAY Network. Additional arrests bring total up to 10 The first arrests related to the deadly incident were announced Jan. 24, when the Honolulu Police Department posted on social media that they had arrested a man and woman on charges of reckless endangering, endangering the welfare of a minor and multiple fireworks offenses. The pair were accused of igniting illegal fireworks and allowing their three children, ages 15, 10 and 1, to light the fireworks as well. According to police bulletins, the pair were arrested on Jan. 24 and then released pending further investigation the following day. The new arrests, shared in a Saturday update from the department, began on Jan. 29 when two couples, a 35-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman, and a 32-year-old man and 29-year-old woman, were also arrested on charges of reckless endangering, endangering the welfare of a minor and multiple fireworks offenses. All four were residents of the Keaka Street home where the explosion took place. The first couple had four minor children present at the event, all of whom were injured but treated at a nearby hospital and released. The second couple had two minor children with them who were not hurt. All four were released the same day pending further investigation. Then, on Jan. 31, two more adult couples who also had children present at the party were arrested. A 32-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman who allegedly lit illegal fireworks with their children, ages 11 and 9, were arrested on the same charges of reckless endangering, endangering the welfare of a minor and fireworks offenses. The children were uninjured. Another 29-year-old man was arrested for endangering the welfare of a minor and firework offenses alongside a 28-year-old woman charged with endangering the welfare of a minor. The couple allegedly ignited fireworks with their one-year-old child at the event. These four were also released the following day pending further investigation. The department declined to provide further comment on the arrests. Contributing: Claire Thornton, Thao Nguyen, Lauren De Young, USA TODAY; Marcus Reichley, Perry Vandell, Arizona Republic
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
5th victim dies a month after Hawaii fireworks explosion
A 29-year-old man has died nearly a month after sustaining serious burns from a massive fireworks explosion in Hawaii. The man, whom authorities have not identified, became the fifth person to die in the New Year's Eve incident at a Honolulu home, a spokesperson with the Honolulu Police Department confirmed to CBS News Tuesday. He was among six victims recovering at the Arizona Burn Center. Other victims killed by the fireworks included a 3-year-old boy, Cassius Ramos-Benigno, and three women, Carmelita Benigno, 61, Nelie Ibarra, 58, and Jennifer Van, 23, CBS Honolulu affiliate HNN reported. Honolulu authorities said someone attending a party lit some aerial fireworks that fell on its side, which shot sparks into other crates containing more fireworks. Over two dozen people were also injured in the blast, officials said. The incident prompted a crackdown on illegal fireworks in the state, with Gov. Josh Green proposing $300 tickets for igniting fireworks, as well as decades of prison time if the use of fireworks leads to injury or death. Trump's statement on New Jersey drones issued at White House press briefing AI stocks plunge as China's DeepSeek sends shock wave through Wall Street U.S. troops head to southern border as deportations continue
