Officer

California Highway Patrol

12/2/2006

Special Act Award (Gold)

On the afternoon of December 2, 2006, California Highway Patrol Officer Brian Elledge was on patrol with his partner, Officer Lockhart, in Contra Costa County on State Route 242 when they came upon a collision. They discovered a car off the roadway in a thicket of bushes with a small fire burning in the engine compartment. The officers learned from a witness at the scene that the driver of the car was still inside and unable to exit the vehicle on his own. Officer Lockhart immediately removed the fire extinguisher from the patrol car as Officer Elledge went to the burning vehicle to help the trapped man escape. While Officer Elledge was trying to access the burning car, the fire spread from the engine compartment to the passenger compartment, causing the victim to scream for help. Officer Elledge broke the driver side window with his baton but was unable to see into the car because of smoke, and flames began to ignite the interior of the car, making rescue efforts even more difficult. Officer Elledge found the disoriented man trying to climb from the back seat over the front seat when he realized the man’s legs and back were on fire. Officer Elledge’s jacket sleeve ignited as he pulled the man out of the burning car. He then placed the injured man on the ground and began extinguishing the flames of the victim with his hands and dirt, while Officer Lockhart doused the flames with the extinguisher. The driver received second and third degree burns to his hands, legs, and head and was taken to the hospital where he made a full recovery. Officer Elledge’s actions during this rescue were responsible for saving the man’s life.