State Traffic Officer

California Highway Patrol

7/19/1968

Special Act Award (Gold)

Officer Robert A. Espagnolle was working at a truck scale about a half mile south of Terra Linda, Marin County, when a man ran across Highway 101 to say a man was trapped in a burning tunnel. A fellow officer moved to radio for a fire truck as Officer Espagnolle ran to the fire. Debris and gasoline were burning on the surface of the water. Officer Espagnolle immediately waded in 25 to 30 feet, splashing water ahead of him to extinguish the flames. Visibility was almost zero because of smoke and flames. Finding the victim, a 63 year old workman, the officer assisted him from the tunnel by placing one arm about his neck and using his other hand to splash flames away while wading out. Both men were hospitalized; the workman for first and second degree burns and Officer Espagnolle for first degree burns of his left hand and arm, extreme hypertension and a prolonged reaction from lack of oxygen.