California Highway Patrol Officer

California Highway Patrol

7/27/2016

Special Act Award (Gold)

On July 27, 2016, at 2:41 a.m., Officer Felix Serpas, and his partners, Officers Kyle Bush and David Crislip, 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 Serpas exited the patrol vehicle and ran toward the burning car as the driver exited the car and was assisted to safety by Officer Crislip. Meanwhile, Officer Crislip observed a passenger 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. Officer Bush recognized the severity of the incident and retrieved the patrol vehicle’s fire extinguisher to battle the growing flames. Officer Serpas and Officer Crislip then heard additional screaming and found another passenger trapped in the front seat. Officer Serpas used his knife to cut the passenger’s seat belt and, with the help of Officers Crislip and Bush, again braved the heat, smoke, and flames to remove the passenger from the car. With no regard for his own safety, Officer Serpas’s heroic act saved three lives from a burning vehicle. The State of California takes great pride in presenting this Gold Medal of Valor to California Highway Patrol Officer Felix Serpas.