CHP OFFICER PRAISED FOR HEROIC ACT.Byline: Kermit Pattison Daily News Staff Writer Headed home after a long night on a graffiti surveillance detail, CHP CHP Chapter CHP Combined Heat and Power CHP California Highway Patrol CHP Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi (Turkish: Republican People's Party) CHP Chemical Hygiene Plan (OSHA) CHP Community Health Plan Officer Doug Reynolds Summoning the aid of two truckers, the California Highway Patrol highway patrol n. A state law enforcement organization whose police officers patrol the public highways. officer braved flames to pull three youths from the vehicle seconds before fire engulfed the passenger compartment. Two of the boys survived. "All they were doing was screaming for help," Reynolds said. "I said 'Don't worry, we'll get you out.' "It was either get them out or they would burn," Reynolds said. "I was concerned the vehicle would blow up. I had to pull them out." Frederick Skinner, 17, an Agoura High School Agoura High School is a four-year high school, freshman-senior, in Agoura Hills, California, United States. It is the largest high school in the Las Virgenes Unified School District, with an enrollment of approximately 2,400 students. senior riding in the back seat, died of his injuries after the Ford Bronco The Ford Bronco was a SUV produced from 1966 through 1996, with five distinct generations. It was initially introduced as a competitor for the Jeep CJ-5 and International Harvester Scout. overturned early Sunday by the Liberty Canyon Road off-ramp. The driver, Joshua Austin, 17, of Westlake, remained in Westlake Medical Center on Monday. A nursing supervisor said she had been asked not to reveal information about his condition. The front seat passenger, Peter Rosa, 15, of Agoura, was listed in fair condition Monday at UCLA Medical Center UCLA Medical Center is a hospital located on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California. It is rated as one of the top three hospitals in the United States and is the top hospital on the West Coast according to US News & World Report. , a spokesman said. Bryan Skinner, father of Frederick Skinner, said Monday that he was touched the officer risked his life to pull the teens from the burning vehicle. "It was lucky for Josh and Pete," he said. "I'd like to express my gratitude to him for getting the kids out. . . . Even though Freddy didn't make it, it was great he was able to get the other kids out." Reynolds' quick reaction also has earned him praise from his superiors, who plan to nominate the 34-year-old traffic investigator for the CHP's highest honor. "We're going to nominate him for the medal of valor For other medals of the same name, see . The Medal of Valor (O't Ha'gvora, Hebrew: עיטור הגבורה) is the highest Israeli Military decoration. ," said Officer Dwight McDonald, a spokesman for the CHP West Valley Office. "Doug is truly a hero." Reynolds had worked until early Sunday morning on a graffiti surveillance detail. He was driving to his Moorpark home on the Ventura Freeway about 4 a.m. when he saw the Bronco bronco: see mustang. speed past at an estimated 90 to 100 mph. "I accelerated," Reynolds said. "I was going to try to catch him and get a plate. But they were way too fast." About a mile later, Reynolds said he saw smoke by the side of the highway and a big rig flashing its lights as it pulled to the shoulder. The off-duty officer pulled off the highway at the next exit and came back to investigate. Reynolds stopped and told another motorist to find a phone and call 911. He said he waved at two truckers on the highway shoulder above to come down with their fire extinguishers. But Reynolds said the fire extinguishers failed to douse douse 1 also dowse v. doused also dowsed, dous·ing also dows·ing, dous·es also dows·es v.tr. 1. To plunge into liquid; immerse. See Synonyms at dip. 2. the fire. Meanwhile, the engine fire was spreading and the boys inside were pleading for help. With the help of the two truckers, he reached into the crumpled crum·ple v. crum·pled, crum·pling, crum·ples v.tr. 1. To crush together or press into wrinkles; rumple. 2. To cause to collapse. v.intr. 1. car, freed the driver and front passenger and carried them to safety. Then he went back for the third youth in the back seat. "If we hadn't pulled them out, they would have burned," Reynolds said Monday. "It was completely engulfed by the time the Fire Department pulled up." The CHP is investigating the cause of the crash, investigators said. Funeral services for Frederick Skinner will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Church of Jesus Christ Church of Jesus Christ may refer to:
There will be a viewing from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Memorial Park and Mortuary, 5600 N. Lindero Canyon Road, Westlake Village. McDonald, who pulled up at the crash scene a few minutes later, said the two surviving teens probably would have died without Reynolds' help. He said the other bystanders were afraid to go near the burning wreck without the officer's urging. "I know they would have perished," McDonald said. "People were more interested in putting the fire out than getting the people out." Reynolds said the help of the truck drivers was invaluable in freeing the boys. The two drivers names were unavailable. "There's a lot of motorists who will not stop and will look the other way," Reynolds said. "Without the other two truck drivers, I could have got them out, but it would have been a lot harder." CAPTION(S): PHOTO Photo:(Color only in Conejo edition) Officer Doug Reynolds pulled three teen-agers from a burning vehicle. Terri Thuente/Daily News |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion