Officer

California Highway Patrol

9/24/2009

Special Act Award (Gold)

On September 24, 2009, California Highway Patrol Officers Jason Smith and Rodney Richards were on patrol in separate locations when they both responded to a call of a collision involving two big rigs near Mt. Shasta in Siskiyou County. Officer Richards arrived on scene to find one of the big rig drivers trapped inside his cab. Officer Richards was unable to open the driver’s door due to the collision damage, and he noticed that fuel was leaking from the rig and flames were approaching the cab. He immediately retrieved a fire extinguisher from his patrol car and attempted to put out the flames. At this time, Officer Smith arrived on scene and immediately provided another fire extinguisher to Officer Richards who continued to keep the flames away from the leaking fuel and also put out the flames within the cab. Officer Smith then attempted to open the cab door as the driver screamed that he was on fire. Several citizens had stopped to provide assistance to the officers, but due to the damage to the cab, attempts to open the door with a pry bar and even a pickup truck’s tow chain were unsuccessful. With the flames nearly out of control and beginning to engulf the entire cab, Officer Smith and a citizen tried one last time to open the door with their bare hands. With extraordinary effort, the door came free. Both Officers were then able to reach the driver, cut the seatbelt which was restraining him, and physically remove him from the cab moments before it was completely engulfed in flames. Officer Smith used his bare hands to extinguish the flames from the driver’s legs. Then both Officers dragged the man away from the burning big rig. With help from the citizens, the driver was placed in the back of a pickup truck and taken to a safe place where he was then treated by emergency medical personnel. Shortly after the scene was stabilized, both Officers were transported to an area hospital where they were treated for severe smoke inhalation. Officer Smith also received treatment for burns he received to his hands. The actions of Officers Smith and Richards, without regard for their own safety, saved this man. The State of California takes great pride in presenting to Officers Rodney Richards and Jason Smith, these Gold Medals of Valor, for their extraordinary act of heroism extending far above and beyond the normal call of duty or service.