TV cameraman pulls man from burning vehicle on H1 Freeway

By Minna Sugimoto - bio | email

KUNIA (HawaiiNewsNow) - A video-journalist with Hawaii News Now on Friday rushed to a burning car on the H1 Freeway near Kunia and pulled the occupant to safety.

Alan "AJ" Johnson and this reporter came upon the vehicle fire on the east-bound side of the H1 at about 12 PM, after shooting a news story about a burglary in Waianae. Johnson pulled the man out of the passenger side and helped him to a grassy area off the shoulder.

Several minutes later, the car was engulfed in flames.

A witness says the driver ran off, leaving his passenger in the burning vehicle.

A female motorist pulled over, held the injured passenger's hand, and kept talking to him until paramedics arrived. The victim was taken to the hospital in serious condition.

A second man was eventually located and also received medical attention.

Fire officials say it appears the car struck a guard rail after a tire blew out, and then a fuel line burst. HFD's hazmat team was called in to clean up the fuel spill.