Power line injures two Guard members

By Walter Wright
Advertiser Staff Writer

Two Hawaii Army National Guard privates were injured at Kalaeloa yesterday when a power line fell on them.

Kacinisau Yalimaiwai, 17, a senior at McKinley High School, and Luis Moran-Nieves, 18, also from O'ahu, were transported to the Queen's Medical Center for treatment of burns and other injuries, then transferred to Tripler Army Medical Center.

Officials at Tripler said the two were in stable condition yesterday and expected to recover.

Honolulu police and fire and federal firefighters responded after a military bus apparently hit a power pole and caused the line to fall on a group of Army National Guard members.

The soldiers were resting after training near the headquarters for the 29th Separate Infantry Brigade at the former Barbers Point Naval Air Station, said Hawaii National Guard spokesman Capt. Charles Anthony.

Honolulu Fire Department Capt. Richard Soo, spokesman for the HFD, said federal firefighters were treating the men's injuries when Honolulu fire units arrived following the 7:30 a.m. accident.

"It appeared that both of these men suffered from electrical injuries, one with an entrance and exit wound and the other from heart symptoms consistent with electrical shock," Soo said.

Anthony said both men were expected to remain at Tripler overnight.

Anthony said he could not confirm that the power line fell as a result of a bus hitting a pole.

"We do know a power line snapped," Anthony said.

Both soldiers are from the first battalion, 487th Field Artillery, based at National Guard armory in Wahiawa.