Highway Patrolman

California Highway Patrol

4/3/1971

Special Act Award (Gold)

Officer Gamble and a friend were off duty and visiting a salt flat near Estero Beach in Baja California where dune buggy and motorcycle races were being held, when they saw a dune buggy carrying two men overturn, and burst into flames, coming to rest upside down. The driver was killed instantly. Gamble and his friend saw the accident from 75 yards away and ran to the scene. The passenger was hanging upside down by his seat belt, trapped in the flames. As Officer Gamble and his friend strained to push the vehicle on its side, the friend was overcome with the heat and fire and fell into the flames. Holding his breath, Officer Gamble pulled his friend free of danger and returned to the hapless passenger. Officer Gamble used his pocket knife; burying his head in the passenger’s mid- section to protect his face from flames, he cut a belt only to discover it was Graham’s trouser belt, not the seat belt. Retreating to safety and fresh air, Officer Gamble yelled to Graham that it was useless. Yet Officer Gamble plunged back into the flames to free the victim. This time he cut the seat belt and pulled the passenger to safety. Officer Gamble suffered severe burns on his face, neck and arms.