Steve Weyand
Officer
California Highway Patrol
8/27/2020
Special Act Award (Gold)
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At 6:43 a.m. on August 27, 2020, a private civilian airplane was departing from Benton Airpark and crashed just after take-off. Sergeant Jeff Edgerton noticed from his office window a private airplane was attempting to takeoff at an unusual altitude that was immediately apparent to him was not consistent with sustained flight.
Sergeant Edgerton announced to everyone in the office that a plane was about to crash. The airplane departed the runway complex and crashed into a steep, brush-filled ravine. Officer Steve Weyand ran from the Air Ops office towards the runway.
Lieutenant Michael Berry, Officer Erik Mallory, Officer Jeffery Hatcher, and Officer Eric Pohrman arrived within approximately 30 seconds of the crash and found the first victim on the ground within 10 feet of the burning fuselage. While circling the aircraft, they came upon a second victim who had been thrown 20 feet from the aircraft and was actively on fire. Officer Pohrman utilized a patrol vehicle fire extinguisher to put out the fire on and around the second victim. Officer Hatcher, Lieutenant Berry, and Officer Mallory picked up the second victim and moved him away from the fire. Officer Weyand ran from the Air Ops office to the airport perimeter and climbed the perimeter fence to retrieve the fire extinguisher from a patrol vehicle.
Officer Weyand fought the fire and quickly depleted the fire extinguisher. He ran back up the steep embankment and obtained two more fire extinguishers from arriving ambulances and proceeded back down the ravine to fight the fire.
Officer Weyand then ran back up the ravine and obtained additional fire extinguishers from civilians who had stopped to help. Officer Weyand went back towards the fully engulfed wreckage to assist the first victim. Officer Weyand and Officer Pohrman battled the fire on and around the victim, who crawled 5 more feet from the crash. Sergeant Edgerton, Officer Pohrman, and Officer Hatcher were able to pull the victim further away from the burning aircraft. In all, Officer Weyand depleted six fire extinguishers to keep the fire away from the victims and CHP personnel. With no regard for his own safety, Officer Weyand went above and beyond the call of duty. The State of California takes great pride in presenting this Gold Medal of Valor to California Highway Patrol Officer Steve Weyand.
Officer Weyand fought the fire and quickly depleted the fire extinguisher. He ran back up the steep embankment and obtained two more fire extinguishers from arriving ambulances and proceeded back down the ravine to fight the fire.
Officer Weyand then ran back up the ravine and obtained additional fire extinguishers from civilians who had stopped to help. Officer Weyand went back towards the fully engulfed wreckage to assist the first victim. Officer Weyand and Officer Pohrman battled the fire on and around the victim, who crawled 5 more feet from the crash. Sergeant Edgerton, Officer Pohrman, and Officer Hatcher were able to pull the victim further away from the burning aircraft. In all, Officer Weyand depleted six fire extinguishers to keep the fire away from the victims and CHP personnel. With no regard for his own safety, Officer Weyand went above and beyond the call of duty. The State of California takes great pride in presenting this Gold Medal of Valor to California Highway Patrol Officer Steve Weyand.