Associate Right of Way Agent

Department of Transportation

5/1/2012

Special Act Award (Gold)

On May 1, 2012, at approximately 3:30 p.m., Associate Right of Way Agent James Murrieta was driving home in Fresno County when he glanced in his rear view mirror and saw a car veering off the road. He called 911 then turned around to help. As he drove to the site, he did not see a car, but he saw wheels above the water line in a canal and a young couple told him that their children were trapped in the submerged vehicle. Mr. Murrieta went into the water to look for an opening in the car. The children’s father and another bystander also jumped in, but the car doors were jammed shut. The car was completely upside down in the water. The pleas for help from the parents were getting stronger and Mr. Murrieta was worried the children would drown, so he went under water, and with the aid of the Good Samaritan, rolled the car onto its side, exposing the right passenger doors. The father was able to free his six year old son, and as Mr. Murrieta held the vehicle from rolling back, the Good Samaritan removed the one year old girl from her car seat. Both children were unresponsive at first, so resuscitation efforts began. The children were just starting to respond as assistance arrived.