Caltrans Equipment Operator II

Department of Transportation

12/28/2016

Special Service Award (Silver)

Around 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 Jason Heinz had just began his shift at the Kyburz Maintenance Yard. Mr. Heinz responded to Caltrans Maintenance Supervisor Shawn Morgan’s call for assistance at Pott’s Turnout. When he arrived on scene, on-lookers reported there was a car on its roof in the river and that people were trapped inside. Mr. Heinz immediately climbed down the rocks and boulders, assessed the situation and returned over and over to his vehicle to get different tools that he attempted to use to gain access to the car to release the trapped passengers. None of the tools were effective. Once the car was righted and the driver of the vehicle was on the river bank, Mr. Heinz gave him his coat to provide heat and protection from the cold weather, and stayed with the driver until emergency medical personnel arrived on scene. All victims were taken to the hospital, but the boy did not survive. The night this happened, although not 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. Heinz’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 Jason Heinz.