Officer

California Highway Patrol

8/27/2020

Special Act Award (Gold)

At 6:43 a.m. on August 27, 2020, a private civilian airplane was departing from Benton Airpark and crashed just after take-off. Sergeant Jeff Edgerton noticed from his office window that a private airplane was attempting to takeoff at an unusual altitude that was not consistent with sustained flight. He loudly announced to everyone in the office that a plane was about to crash and multiple employees exited the office towards the runway. The airplane departed the runway complex and crashed into a steep, brush-filled ravine just north of Placer Street. Officer Jeffery Hatcher was one of the first officers out the door and arrived at the crash site moments after the crash. They were joined by more officers, and proceeded down the embankment, where the first victim was found 10 feet from the burning fuselage. The second victim was found thrown 20 feet from the fuselage. While another officer worked to put the fire out around the first victim, Officer Hatcher helped others move the second victim away from the fully engulfed fuselage. Officer Hatcher then returned to assist the first victim and look for other victims. Officer Hatcher and other CHP personnel carried the injured victims up the steep embankment to awaiting ambulances. Unfortunately, the two remaining occupants of the aircraft remained trapped inside and perished. With no regard for his own safety, Officer Hatcher went above and beyond the call of duty. The State of California takes great pride in presenting this Gold Medal of Valor to California Highway Patrol Officer Jeffrey Hatcher.