State Traffic Officer

California Highway Patrol

5/2/1989

Special Service Award (Silver)

On May 2, 1989, at approximately 12:45 a.m., Officer Matthew P. Causie and his partner responded to a report of an accident in which a vehicle careened off U.S. Highway 101 and down a rock embankment into the ocean. After locating the vehicle, Officer Causie saw that the automobile was relatively intact, but was unstable, continually being slammed back and forth against the rocks by two and three foot waves. Officer Causie immediately assessed the area but due to the darkness and the conditions of the surf , he was unable to determine if the driver or any passengers were still trapped inside. Although the danger to Officer Cause was readily apparent, he stripped his belt, shirt and protective vest, and climbed down the wet and slippery rocks toward the car. Rather than take the time to remove additional clothing or don a personal flotation device, Officer Causie entered the heavy surf without hesitation to check the vehicle for possible survivors. His footing was continually threatened by the force of the waves and the movement of the automobile. Since he was unsuccessful in his attempt to climb into the vehicle, Officer Causie obtained his baton, climbed back down the rocks into the surf and immediately proceeded to break the side window of the vehicle. He probed the interior of the car for possible survivors, but found that the vehicle was empty. An eyewitness reported that had someone been in the vehicle, they could not have survived the heavy surf and cold water for long.