Caltrans Bridge Maintenance Supervisor

Department of Transportation

7/7/2023

Special Act Award (Gold)

On July 7, 2023, while Caltrans Bridge Maintenance Supervisor Geoffrey Clute was on his way home from work, he noticed an erratic driver behind him swerving through traffic, eventually veering from the #3 lane across the #4 lane, through the paved shoulder and down an embankment. Supervisor Clute called the dispatch center in Oakland and circled back around to check on the vehicle’s occupants. Upon arrival, Supervisor Clute confirmed the vehicle went off the road at a high rate of speed, causing it to roll down a berm, hitting a tree before stopping on its side where the engine was now emitting smoke. Supervisor Clute grabbed his fire extinguisher and rushed down the embankment along with another two good Samaritans. They found the driver incoherent and hanging from his seat belt. Supervisor Clute emptied his fire extinguisher into the motor compartment, while the good Samaritans broke out the rear window. The fire grew in the motor compartment; meanwhile, the driver was still incoherent. This all happened quickly and emergency crews were not on the scene, nor could they be heard en route. Unconcerned for their own safety, Supervisor Clute and the good Samaritans started to kick in the windshield to gain access while the vehicle flames continued to engulf the engine compartment. Soon after, they were able to gain access to the interior of the car, Supervisor Clute crawled through the windshield opening and unlocked the driver’s seatbelt. The still-incoherent driver fell to the bottom of the car. Supervisor Clute and the good Samaritans struggled to pull him from the wreck and were ultimately able to pull him out just in time as the vehicle became fully consumed in flames. The driver began to speak as emergency personnel arrived. Thankfully Supervisor Clute was not seriously injured, but he did receive minor burns on the tips of his fingers. When asked, “Why didn't you wait for the fire department?” Supervisor Clute responded, "I was not going to leave the driver in there to burn up! There was no way the fire department would have made it on time, and I wasn't leaving without him." Supervisor Clute embodies the caliber of employee we all wish to find—devoted, reliable, fair, hardworking and committed to leading by great example. The State of California takes great pride in presenting the Gold Medal of Valor to California Department of Transportation, Caltrans Bridge Maintenance Supervisor Geoffrey Clute for his extraordinary act of heroism extending far above and beyond the normal call of duty.