The man who was burned when his van caught fire Wednesday morning in Wahiawa's Whitmore Village has died as a result of his injuries.

The medical examiner's office said Eugenio Fernandez, 66, died late Wednesday of smoke inhalation and thermal burns/electrocution, and that there may have been other conditions that caused his death.

Troy Pace, a man who witnesses said tried to pull Fernandez out of his van and appears to have been shocked, remained in serious condition yesterday with undisclosed injuries at Straub Clinic & Hospital, a hospital spokeswoman said.

While Hawaiian Electric Co. and Honolulu Fire Department investigators are still looking into the incident, it is believed that a live electrical wire fell and struck Fernandez's van on Aheahe Avenue around 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Witnesses said they heard loud explosions and saw the van engulfed in flames.

They also said they saw Pace approach the vehicle in an effort to save Fernandez, then immediately drop to the ground and go into convulsions after touching the van door.

Neighbors said Fernandez lived in the van, which is parked in front of 1142 Aheahe Ave., where witnesses said Fernandez's wife and her family live.

Pace, believed to be in his 40s, also lives in the Whitmore Village area, neighbors said.

HECO spokesman Darren Pai issued a statement saying the utility expressed its condolences to Fernandez's family and its sympathy to Pace. "We are continuing to investigate this incident and are committed to determining exactly what happened and to take whatever actions are appropriate," Pai said. "The safety of the public and our customers is our highest priority."

Reach Gordon Y.K. Pang at gpang@honoluluadvertiser.com.