Caltrans Equipment Operator II

Department of Transportation

12/18/2008

Special Act Award (Gold)

On December 18, 2008, Interstate 5 near the Grapevine was closed due to snow and ice conditions. At approximately 9:15 a.m., Caltrans employees Dale William White Jr. and Brandon Warner, and CHP Officer Joanna McKinty were talking inside the Operation Snowflake Grapevine closure, when they suddenly saw a car heading toward the closure at a high rate of speed. It was evident to all present that the car wasn’t going to stop. Because of its high rate of speed, it was also impossible to predict what direction the car was headed. After hitting a couple of signs and road cones, the car fish tailed and, now out of control, was headed directly toward Mr. White, Mr. Warner and Officer McKinty. For a few terrifying seconds, all three were frozen in place, including nearby witnesses who watched the potential catastrophe unfolding before their eyes. Mr. White yelled, “He’s not stopping, get out of the way!” and pushed Mr. Warner and Officer McKinty out of harm’s way while barely escaping being hit by the car. Mr. Warner and Officer McKinty hit the ground just out of the path of the speeding car, which then hit a sign and sped off at a high rate of speed. The car was later stopped by the CHP and the driver was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and reckless driving. Although Mr. Warner sustained a knee injury in the fall, he and Officer McKinty went home to their families that evening. Mr. Warner said of his co-worker, “If Dale wouldn’t have pushed us, we would have been hit, as the car was coming straight at us.” This feeling is shared by all who witnessed the incident. The actions of Mr. White, without regard for his own safety, prevented major injuries or death to Mr. Warner and Officer McKinty.