An employee of Hawaii Electric Light Co. was killed Wednesday morning after a utility pole he was attempting to place fell on him.
The victim, a 52-year-old man from Waikoloa, was part of a HELCO team attempting to replace a utility pole on the shoulder of Highway 19, near the 35-mile marker in Paauilo, at 10 a.m. Wednesday.
As the team attempted to move the replacement pole into position using a boom truck, the boom collapsed, according to a report from the Hawaii Police Department. The pole then fell onto the victim, pinning him to the ground.
While the victim’s team members were able to extricate him before first responders arrived, he was transported by ambulance to the North Hawaii Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 10:49 a.m.
The police will continue to investigate the incident, and an autopsy will be conducted on the victim Friday to determine the precise cause of death.
Police withheld the identity of the victim pending notification of his next-of-kin.
HELCO issued a brief statement following the incident.
“We’re investigating the cause of the accident and providing support to the family as well as to employees,” the statement read.
“The Hawaii Electric Light family sends our thoughts and prayers to the employee’s family during this difficult time.”
The incident temporarily closed one lane of Highway 19.