California Highway Patrol Officer

California Highway Patrol

7/20/2014

Special Service Award (Silver)

On July 20, 2014, at approximately 9:35 a.m., California Highway Patrol Officer Michael Burton was off duty and traveling with his family in Kern County when he encountered a traffic collision involving a pickup truck that had gone off the road and overturned onto its roof. Officer Burton pulled over to assist. He realized the driver was trapped inside the cab, but he could not reach him because the roof was crushed and the doors would not open. The engine compartment was smoldering and igniting. Two men arrived and with Officer Burton bearing the brunt of the effort, they were able to roll the truck back on its wheels. Officer Burton tried to reach the driver, but the fire increased and smoke filled the cab, eventually becoming so thick he could no longer see the driver. A Kern County deputy arrived and attempted unsuccessfully to put the fire out with his fire extinguisher. Suddenly, the driver reached through the shattered rear window and cried for help. Officer Burton climbed into the truck bed, grabbed the driver’s arm and began pulling. Before long he was able to free the driver’s other arm, head and shoulders, and then pulled him out. With the assistance of the deputy, Officer Burton carried the man to safety seconds before the truck became fully engulfed in flames.