Chief Harry Kubojiri, right, and Deputy Chief Paul Ferreira pose with Kea'au resident Kathleen Babayan after presenting her with a Certificate of Merit for rescuing a man from a burning car.

MEDIA RELEASE

A Kea’au woman who rescued a man from a burning car was hailed as a heroine in a police ceremony Tuesday (August 11). Chief Harry S. Kubojiri presented Kathleen Babayan with a Certificate of Merit for her brave actions.

In the early hours of June 2, Babayan was returning home from a prayer meeting when she saw an overturned car on fire alongside Highway 130. She immediately checked the car and discovered an unconscious man inside.

She attempted to remove the man from the car but was unable to do so alone. She quickly summoned help. She and two men then succeeded in freeing the unconscious man from the burning car.

“Ms. Babayan, you demonstrated great personal courage at the risk of your own life to help another person in a dangerous and life-threatening situation,” Chief Kubojiri said Tuesday morning at a ceremony at Cooper Center in Volcano.

The Police Department is still trying to contact the two men who assisted Babayan in her act of heroism.