Officer

California Highway Patrol

3/3/2008

Special Act Award (Gold)

At approximately 11:50 p.m., on March 3, 2008, California Highway Patrol Officers Kelly A. Valdez and Benjamin A. Glapenske were traveling northbound on Highway 99, south of State Route 46 near Bakersfield, when they saw flames from a car fire on the railroad tracks east of the freeway. Officer Valdez called the Bakersfield Communications Center and requested fire department assistance. Arriving at the scene, they saw two men moving inside the burning vehicle. The car’s engine was completely engulfed with fire giving off intense heat. Officer Glapenske grabbed a fire extinguisher and attempted to put out the fire, but the extinguisher malfunctioned. Officers Glapenske and Valdez went to the rear passenger door and together pulled it open. Seeing movement from the driver, they reached in, grabbed the man’s arm, and dragged him out through the back rear door and to a safe area away from the car. Officers Glapenske and Valdez saw the flames were engulfing the car’s headliner, and quickly moved towards the second occupant. The heavy fire and smoke made it difficult to breathe, but they could see the man’s face, arms and chest were on fire so they reached back into the intense heat, grabbed the man’s arms and dragged him out of the front seat, through the back door and to a safe area. Immediately after, small explosions erupted from the car, and they were forced to move both victims further away before Officer Valdez could assess their medical condition. When the fire department arrived, the victims were treated and transported to Kern Medical Center in Bakersfield where it was determined the passenger’s burns were major, so he was flown to the Fresno Burn Center for further treatment. The driver, who suffered serious injuries, was unlicensed, tested positive for alcohol and was taken into custody upon his release from the hospital. Officers Glapenske and Valdez were treated at the scene for burns and smoke inhalation. Their heroic actions successfully rescued two men from severe or life-threatening burns.