California Highway Patrol Officer

California Highway Patrol

1/27/2013

Special Act Award (Gold)

On January 27, 2013, at approximately 8:27 p.m., California Highway Patrol Officer Adam Garcia responded to a call involving an overturned pick-up in Lake County. The truck driver attempted to pass another vehicle and lost control, sliding sideways, overturning, and landing in a creek bed with the front end wedged up against an embankment. The truck was also occupied by the driver’s wife and another passenger. As Officer Garcia arrived on the scene, the passenger side engine compartment started to ignite and the passenger quickly climbed out the rear window. The driver and his wife, however, were trapped inside. Officer Garcia climbed down the steep embankment and as he approached the truck, the right side became engulfed in flames. Both the driver and the passenger doors were jammed shut. Officer Garcia attempted to pull the driver out through his window, but he couldn’t because the driver’s leg was in a cast and pinned under the dashboard. The windshield was broken and flames quickly began to enter where the driver’s wife was seated. Officer Garcia grabbed the woman, pulled her over the top of her husband, and out of the burning vehicle. Officer Garcia returned for the driver and, with persistent tugging, was able to free his leg and pull him out through his window. The woman suffered severe burns to her upper body and the man sustained a fractured shoulder and wrist, but both survived.