Officer

California Highway Patrol

6/26/2020

Special Act Award (Gold)

At 3:42 a.m. on June 26, 2020, Officer Wesley Barnes attempted to perform a traffic enforcement stop on a vehicle traveling at 86 miles per hour in a 65-miles per hour speed zone. The vehicle failed to yield to the officer’s lights and siren, resulting in a high-speed pursuit that reached speeds of 105 miles per hour. Fortunately, it was a relatively traffic-less freeway at that hour. Carrying two other passengers, the driver lost control of the vehicle, crashing into a large tree on the right side of the highway. The vehicle’s impact prompted it to roll over and rest on the passenger’s side where it instantly erupted into flames. Officer Barnes and Officer Gallemore responded to the occupants yelling for help, with Officer Gallemore breaking the driver’s side window and the two officers removing two of the occupants from the vehicle in flames. The two occupants confirmed a third passenger was still in the vehicle. Officer Barnes instantly climbed into the smoke-filled vehicle headfirst. He found an unconscious passenger, with their legs pinned due to the crash. Using only a pocket knife, Officer Barnes cut the passenger’s restraint and then pulled on their torso and arms as the flames continued to move toward the passenger compartment. The passenger’s sweatshirt slipped off, causing Officer Barnes to lose his grip, while also becoming overwhelmed by the smoke. As Officer Barnes exited the vehicle, Officer Gallemore entered the vehicle headfirst and grabbed onto the passenger’s arms. He continued to pull until the passenger’s legs were freed from the wreckage. Officer Gallemore felt the passenger slip free and called Officer Barnes to help him remove the passenger from the burning vehicle. Together, both officers lifted the passenger from the vehicle before the flames entered the passenger compartment. The unconscious passenger was carried to the shoulder lane where he began breathing again. As the officers reached the shoulder lane, the flames overtook the passenger compartment where the unconscious passenger was removed from. With no regard for his own safety, Officer Barnes 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 Wesley Barnes.