On Friday, March 27, 2015, at approximately 1 a.m. my partner and I received a call of a vehicle stopped in the traffic lanes of N/B I-805 near Claremont Mesa Blvd.
When I arrived on scene, I realized how dangerous the situation was. I jumped out of my patrol vehicle and ran up to the driver’s door and saw the driver unresponsive behind the wheel. I tried several times but was unable to wake up the driver.
As cars passed by me at 60-70 mph I knew I needed to get into the vehicle but the windows were up and the doors were locked. I began yelling at the driver and hitting the windows but she wouldn’t wake up.
Then her foot must have slipped off the brake because the vehicle began to roll forward. I ran alongside the vehicle and struck the passenger side window with my ASP (Collapsible Baton) and broke the window.
I reached in and pulled the emergency brake in order to stop the vehicle. I helped the driver exit the vehicle, and my partner escorted her to the shoulder while I drove her vehicle out of the traffic lanes.
I realize how easily this could have been a tragedy for the unresponsive driver, passing motorists, my partner, or even myself.
I know my job is dangerous and there are times when I will have to put myself in harm’s way in order to protect the people of California. Situations like this happen all over the state and officers put themselves at risk every day because we all took an oath to protect and to serve.
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