Robert L. Immoos
Caltrans Highway Maintenance Lead Worker
Department of Transportation
4/8/2008
Special Act Award (Gold)
At approximately 6:50 p.m., on April 8, 2008, California Department of Transportation employee Robert L. Immoos was at the eastbound Castle Peak off-ramp on Interstate 80 near Donner Summit, watching traffic and weather conditions. Mr. Immoos was monitoring the CB radio and heard truckers talking about a wrong-way driver near the Castle Peak area. Mr. Immoos drove up the east bound on-ramp and saw the wrong-way driver going west in the #1 lane from Castle Peak.
At this time, Teichert Construction had been working in the area and had begun to do a lane shift. Two lanes were closed, so traffic was travelling in two temporary lanes. Mr. Immoos turned around and started heading west in the east bound closed lanes.
As Mr. Immoos approached the wrong-way driver, he could see that oncoming traffic was swerving to avoid head-on collisions. Mr. Immoos could not get the attention of the wrong-way driver, so he decided that at the next traffic break he would turn into oncoming traffic in front of the wrong-way driver. With his headlights and warning lights on, Mr. Immoos drove his pickup truck into the on-coming lanes in front of the wrong-way driver. While trying to get the wrong-way driver to slow down, Mr. Immoos had to avoid several on-coming vehicles. Mr. Immoos turned on his directional indicator and motioned to the wrong-way driver. At the next traffic break, both he and the wrong-way driver made it across the lanes of traffic and into the closed coned-off lanes. Mr. Immoos then had the driver turn around and follow him back to the Castle Peak Interchange where they met up with CHP Officer James M. Hardy. The wrong-way driver was cleared by the CHP officer and was directed back onto the freeway going the right way this time. Without a thought for his personal safety, Mr. Immoos prevented a potentially serious head-on collision, potential loss of life and possible multi-car collisions.
As Mr. Immoos approached the wrong-way driver, he could see that oncoming traffic was swerving to avoid head-on collisions. Mr. Immoos could not get the attention of the wrong-way driver, so he decided that at the next traffic break he would turn into oncoming traffic in front of the wrong-way driver. With his headlights and warning lights on, Mr. Immoos drove his pickup truck into the on-coming lanes in front of the wrong-way driver. While trying to get the wrong-way driver to slow down, Mr. Immoos had to avoid several on-coming vehicles. Mr. Immoos turned on his directional indicator and motioned to the wrong-way driver. At the next traffic break, both he and the wrong-way driver made it across the lanes of traffic and into the closed coned-off lanes. Mr. Immoos then had the driver turn around and follow him back to the Castle Peak Interchange where they met up with CHP Officer James M. Hardy. The wrong-way driver was cleared by the CHP officer and was directed back onto the freeway going the right way this time. Without a thought for his personal safety, Mr. Immoos prevented a potentially serious head-on collision, potential loss of life and possible multi-car collisions.