Officer

California Highway Patrol

7/2/2000

Special Act Award (Gold)

On July 2, 2000, at approximately 11:03 p.m., Officer Kevin Craig and his partner, Officer Christina Raughton, were dispatched to a traffic collision on State Route 1 (Pacific Coast Highway). This portion of the roadway is located near Sycamore Canyon in Ventura County, 10 miles south of Oxnard. At this location, the winding highway runs parallel to the Pacific Ocean and has a steep, rocky drop-off to the ocean level south of the highway. The officers arrived within 10 minutes and were the first emergency personnel on the scene. The vehicle had run off the roadway over a cliff, crashed over large rocks, and landed at the surf line of the Pacific Ocean approximately 66 feet below the roadway. The vehicle incurred major damage, particularly to its rear end. The driver, Mr. Adam Martinez, and right front passenger, Ms. Heather Martin, wore seat belts and suffered only minor injuries. Ms. Lauren Butterworth, the 16-year old female passenger in the rear seat, was unrestrained and was ejected through the rear window of the vehicle. She came to rest below the vehicle, which was precariously balanced on a large rock in the heavy surf. She had broken her left femur, sustained head injuries, and was in and out of consciousness. After Mr. Martinez helped Ms. Martin out of the vehicle and to higher ground, he heard moaning and returned to the vehicle to find Ms. Butterworth in the surf below the vehicle. Mr. Martinez climbed down and pulled her up under several rocks that formed a small alcove above the tide level. They were still being struck by waves, but he could not move to higher ground without abandoning Ms. Butterworth. When Officers Craig and Raughton arrived on the scene, Officer Craig observed a large wave wash over Mr. Martinez and Ms. Butterworth. Officer Craig removed his duty belt and climbed down to them as Officer Raughton advised the Ventura Area dispatch center of the situation and requested additional assistance. Officer Craig helped Mr. Martinez move Ms. Butterworth out of the alcove, then climbed up on an adjacent rock. Mr. Martinez held

Ms. Butterworth’s legs as Officer Craig grasped her shoulders and lifted her up to the rock. Officer Raughton climbed down to the rock and, while kneeling, supported Ms. Butterworth’s head and neck until the arrival of Emergency Medical Services personnel.