Officer

California Highway Patrol

3/1/2000

Special Act Award (Gold)

California Highway Patrol Officer Mark T. Beathard performed an extraordinary act of heroism at risk to his personal safety while on duty at the scene of a traffic collision. Officer Beathard observed a vehicle speeding toward him and two citizens. He pushed the two citizens out of harm's way and was subsequently struck by the vehicle driven by an intoxicated driver. On March 1, 2000, Officer Beathard was dispatched to a non-injury collision involving two vehicles on Interstate 805 South at the transition to Interstate 15 South. The vehicles had been moved to the right shoulder near the gore point of the transition to facilitate traffic. Officer Beathard's motorcycle was parked at the end of the gore point area and approximately nine feet to the west of the damaged vehicles. He was standing with two citizens from one of the vehicles, which had been involved in the collision. Cognizant of the danger from passing vehicles, Officer Beathard alerted the two citizens not to turn their backs to the traffic. Minutes later, Officer Beathard noticed a Lincoln Town Car veering suddenly from the I-805 South traffic lanes onto the gore point. As the vehicle continued south towards Officer Beathard and the two citizens, Officer Beathard yelled "Watch Out" and pushed them out of the way. The Lincoln Town Car sideswiped the left side of the CHP motorcycle and struck Officer Beathard and one of the citizens. Officer Beathard was thrown onto the hood of the Lincoln Town Car and suffered broken bones to both legs. The citizen was fortunate, and was only hit in the elbow by the errant car after being pushed by Officer Beathard. The driver of the Lincoln Town Car subsequently fled the scene and was arrested two days after the accident.









Officer Beathard perceived an imminent danger to those standing on the freeway shoulder and performed an unselfish act of bravery, risking his own life, to protect and preserve the lives of others.