Lieutenant

California Highway Patrol

1/8/1976

Special Act Award (Gold)

At approximately 5:30 pm, a five-vehicle traffic collision occurred in which two people were killed and a third person was critically injured. A driver approached the collision at a high rate of speed and was unable to slow down before rear-ending the cars directly ahead of him. Although the driver changed lanes and braked, he was unable to stop in time and rear-ended a station wagon which burst into flames. Lieutenant Marlatt and his partner Officer Gary Hanson were driving through the area on patrol. They were flagged down by motorists who alerted them of the collision. As the officers approached the scene of the accident, approximately 25 foot flames were shooting into the air from the burning vehicles. Without regard to his personal safety, Lieutenant Marlatt approached and entered the burning vehicle and pulled the two occupants from the car. He was unable to remove the third occupant from the vehicle. One victim was reported in critical condition, sustaining burns over 30 percent of her body, but survived her injuries.