Caltrans Equipment Operator II

Department of Transportation

12/28/2016

Special Service Award (Silver)

About midnight on December 28, 2016, a vehicle traveling on Hwy 50 left the roadway, became air-born, and landed upside down quite a distance off the highway in the American River. In the vehicle was a family of four. Caltrans Equipment Operator II Matt McCarter had just began his shift at the Kyburz Maintenance Yard. Mr. McCarter responded to Caltrans Maintenance Supervisor Shawn Morgan’s call for assistance at Pott’s Turnout. Upon arrival, on-lookers reported there was a car on its roof in the river and people were trapped in the car. He immediately climbed down the rocks and boulders and got into the river to assist Caltrans Equipment Operator II Steven Rhine with rescue attempts. Mr. McCarter worked with Mr. Rhine and two others to right the car in the river to attempt to free the driver. They were able to right the car, and Mr. McCarter assisted Mr. Rhine with getting the driver free and over to the river bank. Mr. McCarter then returned to the car to assist Mr. Rhine with the boy trapped in the backseat. Both tried multiple times, diving into the water, to release the boy from the seatbelt but were unable to do so. A rescue diver arrived, dove under the water and was able to cut the seatbelt. Mr. McCarter and Mr. Rhine carried the boy to the river bank where on-lookers started CPR. All victims were taken to the hospital but the boy did not survive. The night this happened, although it wasn’t snowing at the time, there was an accumulation of snow on the ground and the temperature was in the 20’s. With no regard for his own safety, Mr. McCarter’s heroic service saved three lives. The State of California takes great pride in presenting this Silver Medal of Valor to Caltrans Equipment Operator II Matthew McCarter.