Updated at 6:56 p.m., Sunday, October 22, 2006
Three Saturday accident victims not identified
Advertiser Staff
The Medical Examiner's office is not releasing the names of three people who died Saturday in separate accidents until their tentative identities are confirmed or relatives have been notified.The three are: a 31-year-old Kane'ohe man who died at Straub Hospital and Clinic after being injured in a bodysurfing accident at Sandy Beach; a 38-year-old Downtown Honolulu man who died at The Queen's Medical Center following a paragliding accident at Makapu'u; and a man, 20, killed after jumping about 25 feet off rocks at Kapena Falls in Nu'uanu.
The paraglider was an experienced pilot with over 100 paraglider flights and also a pilot of fixed aircraft, said Alex Colby, president of the Hawai'i Paragliding Association.
"He had a good launch but shortly after the launch he was seen swinging side to side for unknown reasons," said Colby. "That's what brought him into contact with the power lines and some people saw a blue flash. After that he hit the ridge top. But he never fell."
