Maintenance Supervisor

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 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, he went into the freezing waters of Canyon Creek to reach the trapped passenger. Then Caltrans Maintenance Supervisor Rodney Walker arrived on the scene and, along with Caltrans Equipment Operator II Kenneth Myers, climbed down the steep embankment to provide assistance. Mr. Myers was able to prevent Mr. Anderson and the officers from being swept downstream when Mr. Anderson lost his footing as they were carrying the injured woman back across the rushing creek. However, the creek’s steep bank made getting the injured passenger out of the water very difficult, particularly for the three rescuers who had been in freezing water for over 15 minutes. Mr. Walker was able to provide the additional leverage and strength required to lift the panicked woman out of the water, and ensure she got up the very steep embankment to safety and medical attention.