California Highway Patrol Officer

California Highway Patrol

7/27/2016

Special Service Award (Silver)

On July 27, 2016, at 2:41 a.m., Officer Kyle Bush, and his partners Officers David Crislip and Felix Serpas, were on patrol, when they observed a car pass them at a high rate of speed. They followed the car and it suddenly veered to the right across all lanes and exited I-10 at Francisquito Avenue. The officers continued to follow and observed it fail to stop at the stop sign at the end of the off-ramp. As the car accelerated onto North Garvey Avenue, Officer Crislip initiated an enforcement stop. The car failed to yield, and continued to travel at approximately 60-70 miles per hour on North Garvey Avenue. The car turned onto Big Dalton Road and drifted to the right, striking a raised concrete curb, several trees, a water main line, and a fire hydrant. The car then spun back into the roadway and immediately caught on fire. Officer Bush exited the patrol vehicle and retrieved a fire extinguisher while the driver of the car climbed over the passenger seats and exited through the rear right passenger door. Officer Crislip ran to the burning car and assisted the driver to safety. As Officer Bush prepared to battle the growing flames of the burning car, Officer Crislip observed a woman trapped on the rear right floorboard of the car. Officer Crislip reached into the car through the thick smoke and intense heat, and with great effort, removed the passenger from the car and moved her to a safe location. As Officer Bush used the fire extinguisher to combat the intense flames, Officer Serpas and Officer Crislip heard additional screaming and saw another passenger trapped in the front seat. Officer Bush depleted the contents of the fire extinguisher and ran to the passenger side of the car where he observed Officer Serpas use his knife to cut the passenger’s seat belt. Officer Bush, with the help of Officer Serpas and Officer Crislip again braved the heat, smoke, and flames to remove the passenger from the car. With no regard for his own safety, Officer Bush’s heroic service helped to save three lives from a burning vehicle. The State of California takes great pride in presenting this Silver Medal of Valor to California Highway Patrol Officer Kyle Bush.