Officer

California Highway Patrol

7/2/2000

Special Service Award (Silver)

On July 2, 2000, at approximately 11:03 p.m., Officer Christina K. Raughton and her partner, Officer Kevin S. Craig, 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. 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 occasionally 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 Raughton immediately advised the Ventura Area dispatch center of the situation and requested additional assistance. Officer Raughton then climbed down to the rock and, while kneeling, supported Ms. Butterworth’s head and neck until the arrival of the emergency medical personnel. Although the rock the officers and Ms. Butterworth were on was higher than the vehicle, waves continued to wash over them, soaking both officers. Had Officer Raughton been unwilling to place herself in jeopardy and provide assistance to Officer Craig, both Mr. Martinez and Ms. Butterworth would very likely have been swept out to sea. Although Mr. Martinez was able to swim, Ms. Butterworth was in danger of drowning due to her injuries. The cold ocean temperature, rough surf, jagged rocks, slippery footing, and absence of any lighting all contributed to the hazard.