California Highway Patrol Officer

California Highway Patrol

1/9/2009

Special Act Award (Gold)

On January 9, 2009, California Highway Patrol Officer Joshua Hatfield arrived at the scene of a head-on collision involving two vehicles. He immediately assessed the situation and rushed to the aid of an unconscious pregnant woman. She was located in the right front seat of a burning pick-up truck. Officer Hatfield checked the woman’s vital signs and discovered she was alive. He attempted to open the passenger’s door, but the truck was crushed as a result of the collision and the door was bound shut. Officer Hatfield reached into the truck through the shattered passenger window and attempted to remove the woman by grasping her clothing. The woman’s clothing was burnt, causing it to tear free from his grasp. At this point, the fire was raging and the flames were dangerously close to the truck’s gas tank. Without hesitation and despite inhaling toxic fumes and exposing himself to excruciating heat, Officer Hatfield reached inside the cab of the burning truck, hooked his left arm under the woman’s arm and physically yanked her from the burning truck. Officer Hatfield carried her away from the vehicle and proceeded to extinguish the flames from her body with his own body and hands.

Unfortunately, even with the valiant efforts of Officer Hatfield, the woman and her unborn child did not survive. Officer Hatfield was transported to the Central Valley Medical Center and was treated for smoke inhalation and first degree burns to his face, hands, and arms.