Caltrans Highway Maintenance Worker

Department of Transportation

6/21/1993

Special Act Award (Gold)

At approximately 8:20 a.m., Scott Hansen was traveling on the Costa Mesa freeway when he saw a motorist weaving and crashing into sand-filled barricades and slamming into the concrete median. As Mr. Hansen approached the motorist, he saw the driver, a woman, slumped behind the wheel of her automobile. She was unconscious after an insulin reaction. Realizing his Caltrans truck might be the only way to save the woman's life, he responded immediately by maneuvering his truck in front of the weaving car. He slowed down until both vehicles were traveling at a similar speed and let his foot off the accelerator, allowing the battered car to repeatedly hit the crash attenuator on the back of his truck. About 3.75 miles from the initial point of impact, the car finally came to a stop. Mr. Hansen called paramedics and the CHP for assistance.