Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — One death was recorded during the second week of the Department of Public Safety holiday enforcement. A woman suffered a heart attack and ran off the main road in Laulii and she died as a result.

This was confirmed by Chief of Police, Pouuamea Tuaolo Supapo in response to questions from Samoa News.

“This incident occurred in Laulii last week, it was not drug related and no alcohol was involved,” said the Chief.

Meanwhile, Chief Supapo said to date close to 30 people have been arrested and charged with Driving Under the Influence, Public Peace Disturbance and Domestic Violence.

“The DUI enforcement this year is aggressive. We don’t want a repeat of what happened in front of StarKist Samoa last year.

“To date, we as police officers are still reeling from the aftermath of that drunk driving case,” said Supapo.

She told Samoa News more than 20 people were arrested over the long weekend and made their initial appearance in the District Court virtually on Tuesday.

According to the court calendar people arrested over the long weekend were,  Penu Satele; Arieta Vaimoana; Jasibel Sofeni; Weiguo Zhao; Iosefo Mikaele; Johnathan Teddy Veisa; Nicholas Luamanu; Mekuli Opeta; Sakalia Tagoai; Samisoni Tawakeca; Gaosi Sao; Lesa Feleti; Dixie Fotutamatane Siuele; Jr Faatili; Sophia Tauili’ili; Leon Fuata and Phil Ioselani Fou.

The horrific accident mentioned by the Chief of Police killed four StarKist workers in December last year. A remembrance memorial was held at StarKist Samoa cannery prior to workers going on their 2-week break this year, marking the one year anniversary of the tragic DUI incident.

In a statement issued by the DPS at the time said that the vehicle involved in the incident was pulled over by traffic officers at the Satala Cemetery area for speeding prior to the incident.

Two people were in the vehicle. A male individual was the driver while a female individual was the passenger.

Officers approached the driver of the vehicle to inform him the reason for the stop; but while officers were speaking to the driver, the driver took off and a pursuit ensued.

The pursuit ended when the vehicle crashed into another vehicle coming from eastbound to westbound — right in front of the cannery main gate.

The statement confirmed that aside from employees who were taken to the hospital and treated for minor injuries caused by the incident, cops also took into custody other StarKist employees for interfering with police duties at that time.

Videos filmed by cannery workers and members of the public at the scene showed workers trying to get bodies out of the vehicles.

The driver of the speeding vehicle, who is reported to have been intoxicated and his female passenger were rushed to the hospital. Later, the driver Chanel Lafua, was charged with 9 felony counts and 6 misdemeanor charges.

A cannery official said at the time that the four victims had been with StarKist for at least three years. None were guest workers. The 4 deceased were later identified as Ierome Vili, Alatina Faleasi, Taumaoe Olive and Fa’asaulala Ahoni.

Videos posted by several employees and members of the community on Facebook show that several employees complained to police officers who were at the scene for not offering any help to the victims, while they were lying on the ground and on the side of the road.