Henelī Kata, a Tongan man, died this afternoon (California Time) after a hospital took him off life support following a vehicle crash in Sacramento about a week ago.
His father, Taniela Kata, died about three days earlier.
The Katas were rushed to the hospital after the car accident. The details of the incident were still unknown.
“Malo e Lelei kāinga and friends please take note the widow and Heneli Kata’s mother wanted you to know that at 1pm (California time) we planned to remove Heneli’s breathing machine at the hospital”, a cousin, Manu ‘Ata’ata reported on Facebook.
“Those of you who wanted to attend you are welcome”.
It is understood the victims, from Tonga’s Houma village, Tongatapu main island, lived in Oakland, California and were heading back from Salt Lake City when the crash occurred.
A live streaming video posted to Facebook which appeared to have been taken at the hospital room where Heneli was laid had attracted reactions and people offering their sympathies and paying tribute on the thread below.
“Heneli touched so many lives with his kindness & I know we are all broken by this sad news”, a commenter wrote.
“So very sad – my condolences to Taniela and Heneli, his family and to his many friends”, another wrote.
“A truly inspirational young man”, one wrote.
“My condolences to the Kata family. This is a tragic loss”.
