Electrician II

Department of Transportation

3/16/2017

Special Service Award (Silver)

On March 16, 2017, at approximately 11:00 a.m., California Department of Transportation Electrician II Broderick Carmichael and his colleague were replacing a damaged traffic signal at a busy intersection in Hermosa Beach, California. As they were completing their work and waiting to cross the street, they heard a loud crash as two cars collided. Mr. Carmichael was facing the intersection, while his colleague had her back to the treacherous scene that was rapidly unfolding behind her. She could not see that the impact propelled one of the vehicles into a chaotic spin toward the very spot where she was standing. Instead of quickly getting himself out of harm’s way, his instinct was to protect her at all costs. The car jumped the curb, and Mr. Carmichael lunged for her. Although the car struck her, he was able to pull her to safety. She fell into his arms, unresponsive and dazed by the impact. The car came to rest in the median, in the same spot where she stood waiting to cross moments before. He helped her up and guided her to their work truck, catching her as she fainted on the way and called 911. She suffered injuries to her hip and foot, however without Mr. Carmichael’s heroic intervention, her injuries would likely have been far worse, if not fatal. With no regard for his own safety, Mr. Carmichael went above and beyond the call of duty. The State of California takes great pride in presenting the Silver Medal of Valor to California Department of Transportation Electrician II Broderick Carmichael.