TSA Officer Helps Save 88-Year-Old Man After Nine-Car Pileup in Hawaii

The monotony of commuting to work vanished in a frightening instant for one Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officer in Hawaii after he found himself in the midst of a nine-vehicle crash on a Honolulu freeway.

One vehicle overturned, then another slammed into the back of his car, and the collision left the officer’s vehicle wedged underneath yet another automobile. After all of that perilous chaos, despite the damage, the officer escaped without injury. However, he did not distance himself from the dangerous scene—quite the opposite. He launched right into checking on the other victims involved.

Kepoikai “Kai” Lyons was headed to his shift at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport when chaos erupted on the H-1 Freeway. One of the victims was an 88-year-old man who was bleeding inside a damaged vehicle and needed help getting out.

In a recounting published by the TSA on Nov. 2, Lyons described how he dedicated himself to helping the senior citizen and others impacted by the incident.

Officer Helps Injured Driver Escape Damaged Car

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As the effects of the collisions became apparent, Lyons was driven by one overwhelming mindset. “At that moment, getting to work on time and the damage to my vehicle became secondary concerns,” he explained. “What mattered most was making sure everyone was OK. I couldn’t justify standing by when people might need help.”

The 88-year-old driver was exactly one of those individuals in need.

“My main priority was making sure he was safe and wasn’t left to deal with the situation alone,” Lyons went on. “I approached him calmly, checked on his well-being and tried to provide reassurance during what was undoubtedly a stressful experience.”

Another person joined Lyons in cutting through the deployed airbags that were blocking access to the man. Together, they opened the vehicle and helped him out.

Lyons then brought the injured man to his own car, which still had working air conditioning, giving him somewhere to sit while they waited for medical personnel. Lyons continued moving through the crash scene, checking on a woman whose vehicle had overturned and a 16-year-old boy who couldn’t open the door of his pickup truck. There was even a pregnant woman whose vehicle was so damaged, she was unable to leave without assistance from firefighters.

The nine-vehicle collision blocked three eastbound lanes of the H-1 Freeway, and two people were hospitalized. TSA did not identify the victims or the extent of their injuries.

TSA Training Helps Officer Respond to Emergency

Lyons credited his TSA experience with helping him stay focused as he assessed the situation. Specifically, it impressed upon him “the importance of situational awareness, remaining calm under pressure, communicating effectively and making decisions in unpredictable situations.”

He also pointed to the values he learned growing up, explaining that he had always been taught to help others whenever possible. Although his supervisors later praised his actions, Lyons did not consider himself a hero.

Despite everything that happened on the freeway, Lyons still arrived at the airport for his scheduled shift. Supervisory TSA Officer Juliana Sampoang went on to nominate him for an award recognizing his courage and assistance to the crash victims. Nanea G. Vasta, TSA’s federal security director for the Pacific, praised Lyons for his composure and concern for others during the emergency.

For anyone who finds themselves in a similar position, Lyons says help can take many forms, all of them valuable. “You don’t have to be a first responder or have a particular job title to make a difference,” he said. “Sometimes, helping can be as simple as checking on someone, offering reassurance, calling for emergency assistance or making sure someone isn’t left alone.”