On October 30, 2011, Officer Joseph Heightman was exiting northbound Interstate 15 at Del Lago Blvd. when he was flagged down by an individual who informed him of a traffic collision in the City of Escondido. Officer Heightman located the vehicle moments later and observed an unconscious male in the driver’s seat. The driver appeared to be suffering from a seizure and was having difficulty breathing. Clearing away downed tree branches, Officer Heightman gained access into the vehicle’s backseat area and immediately immobilized the driver’s head and neck to protect his cervical spine and maintain his airway. After approximately four minutes, flames began to enter the passenger compartment through the center console. Officer Heightman began to remove the driver by reaching down to unlatch the seatbelt, but the seatbelt mechanism was not functioning. Officer Heightman used his pocket knife to cut the seatbelt but soon realized that the driver’s legs were trapped underneath the steering column. Although he could not see through the smoke, Officer Heightman reached in and found the steering wheel adjustment handle. This allowed him to move the steering wheel to free the driver’s legs and remove him from the driver’s seat. Utilizing the fireman’s drag to support the driver’s head and neck, Officer Heightman was then able to move him a safe distance away from the burning vehicle, just as it became totally engulfed in flames. Due to the smoke inhalation he experienced during the rescue, Officer Heightman began suffering from difficulty in breathing, nausea, and vomiting. He was treated with oxygen at the scene by paramedics until his symptoms subsided. Officer Heightman’s actions during this rescue were responsible for saving the life of another. The State of California awarded Officer Heightman the Silver Medal of Valor for his extraordinary act of heroism extending above and beyond the normal call of duty or service.