Transportation Surveyor

Department of Transportation

11/30/2009

Special Act Award (Gold)

On the morning of November 30, 2009, while traveling home on Highway 88 near Kirkwood, Bob MacKenzie and his wife Elyse came upon a man waving his arms in the air and yelling that a car had just crashed over the embankment. Mr. MacKenzie parked his car and without hesitation went over the guardrail and down a slippery, snow covered, broken rock mountainside. About 100 feet down, he found an elderly man standing next to an overturned and very unstable station wagon lying on its right side. Mr. MacKenzie discovered the man’s wife was trapped in the front seat with one of her arms pinned under the right front windshield pillar frame. While speaking to the woman Mr. MacKenzie noticed the ignition was still on and he smelled gasoline. Mr. MacKenzie could see a five gallon gasoline can in the car. He carefully entered the vehicle, shut the car off and removed the gas can, carrying it away from the vehicle to prevent an explosion. Mr. MacKenzie then attempted to dig the woman’s arm out from under the car but was unsuccessful and concerned that the unstable car could move and cause further injury to the woman so he shifted his efforts to making her comfortable and treating her for shock. With the temperature about 32 degrees, Mr. MacKenzie covered the woman with his jacket to keep her warm and covered her exposed hand with a snow boot he had found in the car. He then pushed rocks under the car to ensure the vehicle was stabilized and would not roll or slide down the embankment causing further injury to the woman or himself. He then proceeded to lie down on the snow-covered ground next to her, continuing to talk with her for almost 20 minutes until rescuers could reach the scene. When the rescuers arrived Mr. Mackenzie gave them details of the woman’s situation, allowing them to make only one rope trip down the steep embankment with the proper tools and first aid supplies. After approximately an hour, the woman was extricated from the vehicle, taken to a waiting ambulance, and subsequently air lifted to a Reno hospital. She spent several days in the hospital and is still recovering from the accident. Mr. MacKenzie’s actions, without regard for his own safety, prevented further injuries and possibly saved the woman’s life.

The State of California takes great pride in presenting to Bob MacKenzie, this Gold Medal of Valor, for his extraordinary act of heroism extending far above and beyond the normal call of duty or service.