Officer

California Highway Patrol

12/3/1998

Special Act Award (Gold)

California Highway Patrol Officer Nicholas M. Legaspi, on December 3, 1998, performed an extraordinary act of heroism at risk to his personal safety when he pulled a semiconscious driver out of a burning vehicle, which had collided into a concrete wall. At approximately 7:55 p.m., Officer Legaspi was off duty traveling eastbound on State Route 30 when he observed a vehicle driven by Mr. Steve Marrone, who was driving under the influence of alcohol, collide into the center divider on the westbound side of the freeway. The vehicle continued to slide along the center divider wall for 15 feet with sparks flashing from the impact. The vehicle pulled away from the wall and stopped, with smoke emitting from the damaged front end. Officer Legaspi exited the freeway and drove back to the collision scene where he observed the damaged vehicle in the center divider, partially straddling the number one lane. Officer Legaspi noticed flames coming out of the engine compartment of Mr. Marrone's vehicle. He approached the vehicle from the driver's side and saw the driver and passenger seats were empty. The interior was dark and filling with smoke. Officer Legaspi shouted into the car to see if anyone was inside. At this time he heard a moan. He was able to open the right passenger door where he discovered Mr. Marrone's head and torso protruding from underneath the dashboard. Mr. Marrone's hips and legs were pinned underneath the dashboard. When Officer Legaspi asked Mr. Marrone if he could move and possibly get out of the vehicle, Mr. Marrone did not answer. The fire was now moving from the engine compartment towards the front of the windshield. Mr. Marrone was unable to free himself. Officer Legaspi grabbed Mr. Marrone's arms and pulled, but was unable to free him. Due to Mr. Marrone's impaired level of consciousness and the small working space in the vehicle, Officer Legaspi was having difficulty removing him from the burning vehicle.Officer Legaspi continued to work to free Mr. Marrone and was able to bring most of his body away from the dashboard, however, his ankles and feet were still pinned by the dashboard. With the fire now burning the interior of the vehicle, Officer Legaspi untangled Mr. Marrone's feet from the dashboard. He then pulled Mr. Marrone away from the nearly engulfed car and moved him to the center divider approximately 30 feet behind the vehicle. By this time, the passenger compartment was completely consumed by the fire.