One killed, one injured when zipline tower collapses

A worker was killed and another critically injured when a zipline tower collapsed this morning on Hawaii island.

Hawaii County Fire Capt. Chad Shirota said the accident happened at the KapohoKine Adventures zipline in Paukaa, just north of Hilo. Officials said the men were working on the tower. The incident was along Honolii Stream, 3.8 miles up from Kulana Street, a fire department news release said.

The incident was reported at 9:39 a.m. and the first fire rescue unit reached the scene at 9:57 a.m., the fire department said.

Hawaii County police Capt. Randall Medeiros said a 36-year-old Maui man was killed and a 35-year-old Ohio man was injured.

Work was being done on the zipline today by Experiential Resources Inc. of Maui, company owner Todd Domeck said.

Medeiros said the workers were tightening a cable on a 2,300-foot zipline span after the company received complaints its ride was too slow. The Maui man was halfway through a test run when the tower fell, Medeiros said. He fell about 200 feet, a Hawaii County police news release said. The injured man was on the tower when it collapsed and fell about 30 feet, the news release said.

Police spokesman Chris Loos said a tower supporting a zipline collapsed. The person who died was riding the zipline and the injured person was on the fallen tower, Loos said.

The injured man was taken from the scene by helicopter and taken to Hilo Medical Center. He was listed in critical condition with multiple internal injuries, police said.

Police were at the scene investigating the incident.