Equipment Operator

Department of Transportation

1/29/2016

Special Service Award (Silver)

On January 29, 2016, at 4:05 p.m., it was very wet and rainy, when a white pickup truck struck a guardrail on westbound I-80, left the roadway, overturned, and rolled down the steep embankment, landing upside down in Canyon Creek below. While the driver was able to get out, the female passenger was trapped inside. A Caltrans sand truck saw the incident and put out a call for help. Caltrans Equipment Operator II James Anderson was nearby and arrived at the scene along with California Highway Patrol Officers Andy Murrill and Kevin Maniord. As the three men went into the rushing water to rescue the woman, CalTrans Equipment Operator Kenneth Myers climbed down the steep embankment to provide assistance. Just as Mr. Anderson neared the bank carrying the visibly injured, bleeding and nearly unresponsive passenger, he lost his footing, putting himself, the woman and the officers in danger of being swept downstream. Mr. Myers reacted by grabbing a branch and wading into the water. He managed to grab Mr. Anderson by the belt and pull him, and thereby the others, back to safety. Mr. Myers’ quick actions prevented them all from being carried off down the creek and into a several hundred foot long culvert pipe taking the rushing water underneath Interstate 80. Mr. Myers’ assistance, and the assistance of Caltrans Maintenance Supervisor Rodney Walker, ensured the panicked woman got out of the water and up the very steep embankment to safety and medical attention.