Highway Patrol Officer

California Highway Patrol

6/25/1973

Special Act Award (Gold)

Highway Patrolman Earl Doyle was patrolling the Sacramento freeways late one afternoon when he saw a car cross the divider, enter the opposing traffic lanes, and crash into a pickup truck. The truck caught fire. The officer immediately radioed for fire trucks and an ambulance. Four citizens and Highway Patrolman George Olinares stopped and offered to help. Officer Doyle attempted to enter through the doors to extract the unconscious driver, but both doors were either locked or jammed. He kicked in the right side window, however, by this time the fire had grown in intensity and spread to the right side of the vehicle, driving Officer Doyle away. Officers Doyle and Olinares emptied their fire extinguishers on the flames and the civilians present also emptied their fire extinguishers on the fire, however it was too intense and the portable extinguishers had no effect on the intense heat and force of the fire. It continued to gain in intensity. Being driven away from both doors, Officers Doyle and two citizens climbed onto the hood of the pickup and attempted to pull the victim out through the windshield. Officer Doyle and the other citizen pulled the victim partially out over the dashboard, but his legs were caught inside. The other three men were attempting to free the victim's legs by reaching into the burning vehicle, however at this time the fire and heat became too intense; the flames were at least 10 feet high. All were driven back. The victim fell back against the seat and then the interior of the cab began to burn. The victim's hair and clothing near his back and arm caught on fire. A citizen removed his shirt and threw it over the head of the victim. Officer Doyle used his uniform jacket to beat the flames away from the victim in the hope of keeping him alive until the fire trucks arrived. The actual contact of the flames roused the victim who suddenly stood up near the windshield opening. At this point there was a combined effort by all the rescuers who rushed forward again, despite the heat and flames, and grabbed whatever they could of the victim - arms, trousers, etc. and jerked him out. Officer Doyle with the assistance of others, saved an accident victim from burning to death.