State Traffic Officer

California Highway Patrol

12/24/1990

Special Act Award (Gold)

State Traffic Officers Thomas R. Greenstone and Wesley J. Maehler, on December 24, 1990, performed an extraordinary act of heroism at great personal risk to their own safety and life in the rescue of two adult males from a burning pickup truck. At approximately 3:30 a.m., Officers Greenstone and Maehler were on routine patrol on Interstate 5 when they observed flames south of their location, near Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base. Immediately responding to the location, the officers encountered a burning pickup truck with two unconscious adult males in the cab. Officer Maehler got the fire extinguisher from the patrol car while Officer Greenstone ran to the right door of the truck. The engine compartment was fully engulfed in flames and ignited the surrounding vegetation along the left side of the truck into a six to ten foot wall of flames. Officer Greenstone opened the right door and located the passenger in the thick, dense smoke that filled the cab. The passenger was extremely intoxicated and resisted Officer Greenstone’ attempts to get him out of the truck. Officer Greenstone overcome the passenger’s resistance and pulled him to safety as the dash and windshield area started to melt from the extreme heat and flames. Officer Maehler then entered the cab, and located the unconscious driver slumped up against the driver’s side door and dashboard. He pulled the driver toward the passenger’s door, but due to his large size, the driver became stuck between the seat and steering wheel. After considerable effort officer Maehler freed the drive and pulled him through the open door. Both Officers Greenstone and Maehler carried the still unconscious driver to a safe distance away from the truck, which was now fully engulfed in flames.