By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2025-01-04 07:01:45 | Updated at 2025-01-09 23:22:33
5 days ago
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 alongside two sisters, identified by their heartbroken family as Nelie Turalba Ibarra and Lita.
All three died at the illegal fireworks display on Tuesday night during the New Year's Eve celebration that also left several other family members critically injured.
Some of the injuries were so gruesome that 'brain matter' was left on the street.
Van was described by her sister, Tammy, as having an 'infectious and outgoing personality [that] 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 through our most difficult times,' Tammy wrote.
On the night of the explosion, Van had been welcoming the new year her friends and family when an accidental spark led to a faulty cache of fireworks to explode.
A lit bundle of mortar-style aerials tipped over and shot into crates of unlit fireworks, causing a rapid-fire series of blasts.
The third victim of the fatal 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 [that] touched many people, especially with her loud mouth and kindness
The New Year's Eve fireworks explosion killed three and injured more than two dozen others in Honolulu
Van was with her sister and younger half-brother at the time of the disaster which occurred just after midnight, but in all of the chaos the pair were unable to find her.
'After a desperate search and several hours of distress, my parents finally located her in a hospital, only to learn that she had sustained life-threatening injuries,' Tammy explained in a family GoFundMe.
'She was pronounced dead early that morning, where my parents witnessed their beautiful first born motionless, leaving us shattered and in disbelief. We are grateful for everyone who was present that day and helped out when they could.'
More than two dozen others were severely wounded at a home on Keaka Drive in the neighborhood of Aliamanu.
Aside from Van, Nelie Ibarra, 58, lost her life. She was described as having an 'infectious laughter and boundless generosity' that 'touched everyone she met', in a GoFundMe set up by her stepdaughter Ritchelyn Peterson.
In a separate GoFundMe for Lita's family, they revealed that her son Junior 'also sustained extensive fire-related injuries,' and that her '3-year-old grandson has suffered the most extensive injuries with most of his body burned.'
In addition, Lita's daughter Charmaine 'Char' Benigno, a mother-of-two, suffered 'burns beyond recognition'.
Nelie and Lita's neice Sheena Turalva wrote in a GoFundMe that the death of her two aunts is an 'unimaginable tragedy and 'heartbreaking loss'.
Sisters Nelie and Lita were killed in the illegal fireworks display on Tuesday night during the New Year's Eve celebration
Nelie, right, was described as having an 'infectious laughter and boundless generosity' that 'touched everyone she met'
Authorities believe the deadly fireworks were set off by an amateur pyrotechnic. The person has not yet been identified and a criminal investigation is underway
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 'extraordinarily grotesque' scene that looked like a 'war zone' in its wake.
Authorities believe the deadly fireworks were set off by an amateur pyrotechnic. That person has not yet been identified, and a criminal investigation is underway.
Benigno suffered 'severe injuries that will require extensive medical care. She has a long recovery ahead,' according to her GoFundMe.
The young mother, who has two sons, ages two and four, remains in the ICU. Her longtime boyfriend survived the night unscathed.
Benigno's family wrote that her boys and Jacob 'really need her home!'
Two other victims critically wounded in the explosion are new parents, and have only identified by their first names Melissa and Kevin.
Pictured: Charmaine Benigno with her longtime partner Jacob. While Jacob was not injured, Benigno is fighting for her life in the ICU
Hawaii governor Josh Green described the 'extraordinarily grotesque' scene and said 'brain material' was found on the sidewalk
Some of the injuries were so gruesome that 'brain matter' was left on the street
'Kevin is currently in the hospital fighting for his life,' the description reads in their GoFundMe organized to help the family.
'He has sustained grave 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 since there were no beds available in the hospital she was originally sent too.
As the couple recovers, their their three-month-old Kaesyn is currently being taken care of by both Melissa's and Kevin's families.
The military, in response to a request from Hawaii Governor Josh Green, plans to fly six burn patients to Arizona for treatment on Saturday.
Hawaii has only one specialized burn unit and online fundraisers for some victims said they would need to go to Arizona because their home state's hospitals don't have the space to care for them.
Minutes after the midnight explosion emergency crews rushed to the grisly and chaotic scene.
While it is still not clear the extent of other injuries of the wounded, the youngest is a three-year-old child.
The blast was Hawaii's deadliest fireworks incident in 14 years.
New parents Melissa and Kevin with their three-month-old son suffered catastrophic injuries
Charmaine 'Char' Benigno, a mother-of-two, was critically injured in the blast
Aerial view of the New Year's Eve explosion where emergency crews set up a triage
Two people were pronounced dead at the scene, and a 23-year-old female later also 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 by the home's carport, and upstairs of the house, but after the fireworks explosion, a haunting clip captured on video shows only one one or two people exiting the home, as per 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 tended to some of the injured.
'My friend carried our friend into the house, she had lacerations on her fingers, she was bleeding, we couldn't tell where it was coming from but when we realized it wasn't a major artery or vein and we kept her stabilized,' Bagaforo said.
She said her friend saw helpless people who she described 'were dazed, just trying to figure out where the triage center is, asking for help, laying in the street. It was a lot,' she added.
Aleighya Corpuz told the news outlet about her 12-year-old friend she is worried sick about.
'She kept saying Aleighya, I cant feel my legs, like it was hurt but numb, and I looked at her leg when she was leaving and it was bleeding,' she said.
Another woman who lives across the street where the tragedy took place was shattered by the incident.
She told the news outlet, 'They just wanted to have a good time and ring in the New Year with people they loved and cared about.'
