Highway Patrol Officer

California Highway Patrol

11/10/1997

Special Act Award (Gold)

At approximately 3:40 pm, during a rainstorm, CHP Officer Richard L. Gibson and his partner saw a Lexus sedan spin around and stop, facing oncoming traffic, near the center divider wall on the Golden State Freeway, south of the Foothill freeway interchange. Officer Gibson and his partner parked their patrol car in the median ahead of the Lexus. As Officer Gibson walked toward the driver, he spotted a Ford hydroplaning across the wet traffic lanes. The Ford hit a Mazda and both cars started careening toward the median. The victim was standing between the Lexus and the patrol car. Officer Gibson ran to the victim, grabbed him from behind in a bear hug, and threw him over the four foot tall concrete center divider. As soon as the victim was thrown over the divider, the Mazda hit the Lexus head on, the Lexus hit Officer Gibson and he was thrown onto the hood of the car. When he got up, the first thing he did was check on the victim who was very thankful. He realized that he could been seriously hurt or killed if he had gotten trapped between the two cars.