Lieutenant

California Highway Patrol

8/29/2011

Special Act Award (Gold)

On September 29, 2011, at approximately 7:39 a.m., several California Highway Patrol officers, including Lieutenant John Banister, were in a high speed pursuit of a stolen vehicle when the driver lost control while negotiating a curve and struck a power pole. The live power lines fell onto the vehicle and the surrounding ground, igniting a brush fire. After the collision, two of the vehicle’s occupants jumped out and were immediately taken into custody. The female driver sustained a major head wound and was unconscious in the vehicle. Lieutenant Banister and other CHP officers tried, but were unable to extinguish the rapidly growing brush fire. Concerned about the driver, Officer Banister jumped over the live, arcing power lines, and single-handedly extinguished the fire just as the vehicle began to catch on fire.

PG&E crews arrived on the scene, deactivated the power lines and then CAL FIRE personnel extricated the woman and she was transported to the hospital.