Caltrans Equipment Operator II

Department of Transportation

10/5/2011

Special Service Award (Silver)

On October 5, 2011, at approximately 3:00 p.m., Caltrans Equipment Operator II’s, Jerry Bachmann and Johnnie James were driving on remote Highway 199 when they noticed a downed culvert marker and fresh tire tracks leaving the roadway. Mr. James looked in the rear view mirror and saw an upside-down vehicle resting precariously against a tree over a steep bank leading down to the Smith River. They went down to check out the situation. The occupants were an elderly couple, both injured but conscious. The man was half in/half out of the passenger side window, held only by his seatbelt. He had massive head injuries and was having difficulty breathing. The female driver was inside of the flipped vehicle, feet on the door and leaning against the inside roof. She had a broken wrist. Mr. James pulled the woman out of the car and placed her on the bank while Mr. Bachmann covered her with his coat. With great difficulty, Mr. James freed the man from his seatbelt. As emergency responders arrived, large, loose rocks started rolling down on them. Mr. Bachmann used his body and a fire dept. hat to protect the woman from the falling rocks. At one point he was holding the woman with one hand, a tree with the other, and an emergency responder was standing on his leg to balance him. Mr. Bachmann assisted the injured man into the rescue basket; unfortunately, the man suffered a heart attack as they were pulling him up and passed away later that night. The woman fully recovered.