Teodora “Dora” Bonilla
Psychiatric Technician
Department of Developmental Services
2/27/2010
Special Act Award (Gold)
On February 27, 2010, Teodora “Dora” Bonilla and her daughter were driving through a fierce rain and wind storm on the busy Corona Expressway, when Ms. Bonilla saw a body lying in the middle of the freeway.
She abruptly changed lanes and applied her brakes to avoid hitting the victim, causing the vehicle behind her to collide with her car. Ms. Bonilla exited her vehicle, alerting the person in the vehicle behind her to block the oncoming traffic. Ms. Bonilla was the first person on the scene of an accident between a van and a car and it was apparent that the woman had been ejected from her car.
Despite the danger of being in the middle of a busy freeway during a strong storm where visibility was low, Ms. Bonilla calmly assessed the woman’s condition. The woman had lacerations to her face, was shaking, and appeared to be in shock. Ms. Bonilla noted that the woman was throwing up blood so she immediately turned her onto her side to prevent suffocation. Two county nurses arrived on the scene and covered the woman to protect her from the rain and cold. Ms. Bonilla checked the woman’s vital signs and comforted her until the paramedics arrived. Ms. Bonilla remained on the scene and provided details of her response to the accident to law enforcement personnel.
When she was certain that she wasn’t needed any further, Ms. Bonilla continued on her route, dropped her daughter off at child care, and reported to Lanterman Developmental Center for duty. Ms. Bonilla was soaked by the rain and clearly shaken by the incident but remained on duty for her entire shift.
Ms. Bonilla’s actions, without regard for her own safety, saved the woman from sustaining additional injuries and possibly death and helped to prevent further accidents from other drivers traveling this stretch of the highway.
The State of California takes great pride in presenting to Teodora “Dora” Bonilla, this Gold Medal of Valor, for her extraordinary act of heroism extending above and beyond the normal call of duty or service.