Indiana Troopers recognized for outstanding service

The Indiana State Police recognized several Indiana State Police employees for some form of outstanding service at an awards ceremony held at the Indiana State Police Youth Education and Historical Center this morning. Indiana State Police Superintendent Paul Whitesell issued the awards that included Corporate Recognition, Commendations, Meritorious Service, Life Saving, Combat Action and Silver Star.

Troopers Brent Lykins and Shea Reliford were given the Departments Silver Star Award. On April 8, 2007 calls of a wrong-way driver flooded the state police dispatch center in Indianapolis.

The wrong way driver entered I-465 at Allisonville Road and was driving east in the westbound lanes.

The wrong way driver didn’t stop until a horrific head-on crash with a Pontiac van that had a total of six people in the van. While the impact of the crash immediately killed the wrong way driver and the driver of the van, it left the five other occupants of the van — ranging in age from 16 to 21 — seriously injured. Further complicating this tragic event was the fact that the impact of the crash caused the van to roll onto the passenger side and catch fire. As Troopers Lykins and Reliford arrived good Samaritans were working to rescue the occupants of the van. Tpr. Lykins used his fire extinguisher to try and control the fire as Tpr. Reliford assisted the good Samaritans with the rescue. Ultimately all but one of the surviving occupants was removed from the vehicle. Now with no more fire extinguishers at hand the vehicle continued to burn as the last victim was trapped due to his legs being pinned in the wreckage. In an effort to save this victim Tpr. Lykins used his baton to break out the back windshield and with help from Tpr. Reliford started removing luggage. Tpr. Lykins then crawled into the burning vehicle

and worked to release the trapped victim by using a pocket knife to cut away the victim’s pant legs and then lifted and pulled the young man towards the rear of the vehicle and out to safety. The selfless acts of the good Samaritans and Troopers Lykins and Reliford reduced the opportunity of additional injuries and deaths. Trooper Lykins is a two year veteran of the Indiana State Police and is assigned to the Seymour District. Trooper Reliford is a two year veteran of the Indiana State Police and is assigned to the Indianapolis District.

Sergeant Anthony D. Emery is a Public Information Officer/Recruiter for the Indiana State Police. 

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