Caltrans Highway Maintenance Worker

Department of Transportation

8/3/2022

Special Service Award (Silver)

On the morning of August 3, 2022, Highway Maintenance Worker Nicholas Macias and Equipment Operator II Robert Hernandez were on duty when they noticed a sedan had crashed into a tree while exiting Highway 99. Flames were emitting from its engine compartment. The two skillfully maneuvered their Caltrans vehicle up the off-ramp, blocked the lane and started traffic control to protect the crashed vehicle and pedestrians, who were near the scene, from the vehicles exiting the highway. Noticing the driver was still in the vehicle and recognizing the danger the fire posed to the driver, citizens on foot, and other motorists, Mr. Macias quickly retrieved a fire extinguisher, ran towards the crash, and successfully extinguished the fire before the sedan was fully engulfed, while Mr. Hernandez maintained traffic control and kept people safely back. With the fire successfully extinguished, the trapped and injured driver was safely extracted. Facing great personal risk, the actions of Mr. Macias and Mr. Hernandez helped save the life of the injured driver and prevented potential injuries to pedestrians and other motorists. The State of California takes great pride in presenting a Silver Medal of Valor to California Department of Transportation Equipment Operator II Robert Hernandez for his act of heroism extending above and beyond the normal call of duty.