CHP Officer

California Highway Patrol

12/14/2009

Special Act Award (Gold)

On December 14, 2009, at approximately 11:45 p.m., California Highway Patrol Officer Joseph Urrea heard about a collision on westbound Interstate 40, approximately 20 miles west of Needles. When Officer Urrea arrived on the scene minutes later, he saw three people attempting to rescue a driver trapped inside a burning vehicle. The driver’s door was jammed, so Officer Urrea attempted to pull the victim out through the front passenger door, but the semiconscious driver could not unbuckle his seat belt. The engine compartment was fully engulfed, and flames were quickly spreading to the passenger side. Officer Urrea climbed into the vehicle through the front passenger door and unbuckled the driver’s seat belt. With assistance, Officer Urrea pulled the victim out the driver’s door window to safety. The heat and flames were so intense the victim’s socks were smoldering as he was pulled from the vehicle. Less than half a minute later, the vehicle was fully engulfed in flames. The victim was transported by helicopter to the hospital and survived.