The third victim of the fatal New Year’s Eve fireworks explosion in Hawaii has been identified by the Honolulu Medical Examiner as Jennifer Van.
The 23-year-old was killed next to ttwo sisters, identified by their heartbroken family as Nelie Turalba Ibarra and Lita.
All three died on Tuesday evening during the illegal fireworks during New Year’s Eve celebrations, which also seriously injured several other family members.
Some injuries were so gruesome that ‘brain matter’ was left on the streets.
Van was described by her sister, Tammy, as having an “infectious and outgoing personality (who) touched many people, especially with her loud mouth and kindness.”
“She was a devoted sister, daughter and friend who selflessly supported our family financially and emotionally, especially during our most difficult times,” Tammy wrote.
On the night of the explosion, Van had welcomed the New Year to her friends and family when an accidental spark caused a defective supply of fireworks to explode.
A lighted beam of mortar-like antennae tilted and shot into crates of unlit fireworks, causing a series of rapid explosions.
The third victim of the deadly New Year’s Eve fireworks explosion in Hawaii has been identified by the Honolulu Medical Examiner as 23-year-old Jennifer Van.
Van was described by her sister, Tammy, as having an “infectious and outgoing personality (who) touched many people, especially with her loud mouth and kindness.”
The New Year’s Eve fireworks explosion killed three people and injured more than 20 others in Honolulu
Van was with her sister and younger half-brother at the time of the disaster, which happened just after midnight, but in all the chaos the couple were unable to find her.
“After a desperate search and several hours of distress, my parents finally found her in a hospital, but learned she had suffered life-threatening injuries,” Tammy explained in a family interview. GoFundMe.
‘She was pronounced dead early that morning, where my parents witnessed their beautiful firstborn motionless, leaving us shattered and in disbelief. We are grateful to everyone who was present that day and helped where they could.’
More than 20 others were seriously injured at a home on Keaka Drive near Aliamanu.
Besides Van, Nelie Ibarra, 58, lost her life. She was described as having an “infectious laugh and boundless generosity” that “touched everyone she met”, in a GoFundMe founded by her stepdaughter Ritchelyn Peterson.
In a separate one GoFundMe for Lita’s family, they revealed that her son Junior “also suffered extensive fire-related injuries,” and that her “three-year-old grandson suffered the most extensive injuries, with most of his body burned.”
In addition, Lita’s daughter Charmaine ‘Char’ Benigno, mother of two, suffered ‘burns beyond recognition’.
Nelie and Lita’s niece Sheena Turalva wrote in one GoFundMe that the deaths of her two aunts are an “unimaginable tragedy and a “heartbreaking loss.”
Sisters Nelie and Lita were killed by illegal fireworks on Tuesday evening during the New Year’s Eve celebration
Nelie was described as having an “infectious laugh and boundless generosity” that “touched everyone she met”
Authorities believe the deadly fireworks were set off by amateur pyrotechnics. The person has not yet been identified and a criminal investigation is ongoing
Fireworks debris is seen outside the home where a New Year’s Eve fireworks explosion killed and injured people in Honolulu
“The emotional, physical and financial toll on our family is overwhelming as we navigate this difficult and painful time,” she wrote.
Among those still “fighting for their lives” are new parents Melissa and Kevin from the Salt Lake area.
Hawaii Governor Josh Green described the mass casualty incident as an “extremely grotesque” scene that left in its wake looking like a “war zone.”
Authorities believe the deadly fireworks were set off by amateur pyrotechnics. That person has not yet been identified and a criminal investigation is ongoing.
Benigno suffered serious injuries requiring extensive medical attention. She has a long recovery ahead of her,” she said GoFundMe.
The young mother, who has two sons aged two and four, is still in intensive care. Her old friend survived the night unharmed.
Benigno’s family wrote that her boys and Jacob “really need her house!”
Two other victims seriously injured in the explosion are new parents and have been identified only by their first names Melissa and Kevin.
In the photo: Charmaine Benigno with her long-time partner Jacob. Although Jacob was not injured, Benigno is fighting for her life in intensive care
Hawaii Governor Josh Green described the ‘extremely grotesque’ scene and said ‘brain matter’ was found on the sidewalk
Some injuries were so gruesome that ‘brain matter’ was left on the streets
“Kevin is currently in the hospital fighting for his life,” the description reads GoFundMe organized to help the family.
“He has suffered serious injuries, will require extensive medical care and has a very long road to recovery,” their family added.
Melissa, meanwhile, was flown to another hospital to be placed in their burn unit as there were no beds available at the hospital she was originally sent to.
While the couple recovers, their three-month-old Kaesyn is currently in the care of both Melissa and Kevin’s families.
The military plans to fly six burn patients to Arizona for treatment on Saturday in response to a request from Hawaii Governor Josh Green.
Hawaii has only one specialized burn unit, and online fundraisers for some victims said they would have to go to Arizona because hospitals in their home state don’t have the space to care for them.
Minutes after the midnight explosion, emergency services rushed to the eerie and chaotic scene.
While it is still not clear the extent of the remaining injuries to those injured, the youngest is a three-year-old child.
The explosion was the deadliest fireworks incident in Hawaii in fourteen years.
New parents Melissa and Kevin suffered catastrophic injuries with their three-month-old son
Charmaine ‘Char’ Benigno, a mother of two, was seriously injured in the blast
Aerial view of the New Year’s Eve explosion, with emergency services setting up a triage
Two people were pronounced dead at the scene and a 23-year-old woman also later succumbed to her injuries
Many in the Aliamanu community are heartbroken and grieving.
On Thursday, friends gathered to place flowers at a makeshift memorial near where their bodies were found.
Before the tragedy, dozens of partygoers were seen at the home’s carport and upstairs, but after the fireworks explosion, a haunting video shows only one or two people leaving the house. KHON 2News.
Neighbor Angelina Bagaforo, who lives across the street, said she was inside when the fireworks went off and that a friend who was outside was treating some of the injured.
“My friend carried our friend into the house, she had cuts on her fingers, she was bleeding, we couldn’t tell where it was coming from, but then we realized it wasn’t a major artery or vein and we kept her stabilized,” Bagaforo said .
She said her friend saw helpless people lying on the street who she said were “dazed, trying to find where the triage center was, asking for help.” It was a lot,” she added.
Aleighya Corpuz told the press about her 12-year-old friend who worries her.
“She kept saying, Aleighya, I can’t feel my legs, like it hurt but was numb, and I looked at her leg when she left and it was bleeding,” she said.
Another woman who lives across the street from where the tragedy occurred was shocked by the incident.
She told the news station: “They just wanted to have a good time and ring in the new year with people they loved and cared about.”