from PRNewswire
Press Release Source: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company On Thursday March 25, 2010, 8:00 pm EDT
LOUISVILLE, Ky., March 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The 27th annual Goodyear North America Highway Hero is an Oregon truck driver who helped save the lives of three people involved in a fiery traffic accident, including one driver who was trapped in his burning vehicle. Junichi Shimizu accepted the award and a $10,000 U.S. Savings Bond during the Mid-America Trucking Show.
On February 20, 2009, Shimizu, a driver for Chipman Relocations, was driving westbound on Highway 12 near Fairfield, CA, and witnessed a vehicle cross the centerline of the road and strike an automobile in front of his truck. The auto spun into the ditch, and the other vehicle then hit his tractor twice before bursting into flames. Upon coming to a stop, Shimizu called for assistance and then headed to the vehicle that was in flames. Unable to open the driver's side door due to the damage, he told the driver to protect his face and he punched out the glass in order to pull the driver free of the car. Gaining help from another motorist, he was able to free the driver's foot, which was wedged under the dashboard, then carry the driver to safety. Running to the other car, he quickly assessed that the driver was deceased, but there were two injured passengers inside. The passengers were removed, and Shimizu retrieved his fire extinguisher to keep the blaze under control until the local fire department arrived.
Shimizu, of Gladstone, OR, also has been recognized by the California Highway Patrol with a certificate of commendation for his role in the lifesaving effort associated with the 2009 crash.
"In this terrible accident, one driver perished, and our thoughts and prayers go out to this family," said Joseph Copeland, Goodyear's vice president of commercial tire systems.
"But we also honor the quick actions and selflessness of Junichi Shimizu. Although his own rig was struck in this accident, he remained calm and immediately pulled his vehicle to a stop and called for help. He then reacted quickly and put himself in harm's way, in order to help rescue strangers who were in peril. Because of that decision, three lives were saved. For this, Junichi has earned the right to be called a hero."
Founded by Goodyear in 1983, the Highway Hero program recognizes professional truck drivers and the often unnoticed, life-saving rescues and roadside assistance they provide as their jobs take them across North America.
Shimizu was selected along with three other truck drivers as finalists for the 2009 award.
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We would like to take a moment to reflect on the life that was lost that night, Mr. Houston Mandolph of Stockton, Ca.
Press Release Source: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company On Thursday March 25, 2010, 8:00 pm EDT
LOUISVILLE, Ky., March 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The 27th annual Goodyear North America Highway Hero is an Oregon truck driver who helped save the lives of three people involved in a fiery traffic accident, including one driver who was trapped in his burning vehicle. Junichi Shimizu accepted the award and a $10,000 U.S. Savings Bond during the Mid-America Trucking Show.
On February 20, 2009, Shimizu, a driver for Chipman Relocations, was driving westbound on Highway 12 near Fairfield, CA, and witnessed a vehicle cross the centerline of the road and strike an automobile in front of his truck. The auto spun into the ditch, and the other vehicle then hit his tractor twice before bursting into flames. Upon coming to a stop, Shimizu called for assistance and then headed to the vehicle that was in flames. Unable to open the driver's side door due to the damage, he told the driver to protect his face and he punched out the glass in order to pull the driver free of the car. Gaining help from another motorist, he was able to free the driver's foot, which was wedged under the dashboard, then carry the driver to safety. Running to the other car, he quickly assessed that the driver was deceased, but there were two injured passengers inside. The passengers were removed, and Shimizu retrieved his fire extinguisher to keep the blaze under control until the local fire department arrived.
Shimizu, of Gladstone, OR, also has been recognized by the California Highway Patrol with a certificate of commendation for his role in the lifesaving effort associated with the 2009 crash.
"In this terrible accident, one driver perished, and our thoughts and prayers go out to this family," said Joseph Copeland, Goodyear's vice president of commercial tire systems.
"But we also honor the quick actions and selflessness of Junichi Shimizu. Although his own rig was struck in this accident, he remained calm and immediately pulled his vehicle to a stop and called for help. He then reacted quickly and put himself in harm's way, in order to help rescue strangers who were in peril. Because of that decision, three lives were saved. For this, Junichi has earned the right to be called a hero."
Founded by Goodyear in 1983, the Highway Hero program recognizes professional truck drivers and the often unnoticed, life-saving rescues and roadside assistance they provide as their jobs take them across North America.
Shimizu was selected along with three other truck drivers as finalists for the 2009 award.
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We would like to take a moment to reflect on the life that was lost that night, Mr. Houston Mandolph of Stockton, Ca.
By Christian Burkin
Record Staff Writer
March 01, 2009 12:00 AM
STOCKTON - When Houston Mandolph Jr. was 15 years old, he devoted himself to God.
"He just decided he wanted to go to church," said his mother, Cheryl Allen.
He also decided his mother would go to church. She was raised a Christian, but had lapsed. Mandolph told his friend, Brian Regnart, that he wouldn't die until he had saved his family. He was right.
"I started going to church back about a year ago," Allen said. "I started going every Sunday."
Mandolph, 23, was killed Feb. 20 on Highway 12 in Solano County when the car he was driving was hit head-on by another driver who had drifted into Mandolph's lane. His passengers, Christopher and Ashley Coss, who are brother and sister, suffered major injuries. The other driver, 19-year-old Pedro Ruiz of Rio Vista, also was injured. The California Highway Patrol is investigating the possibility that Ruiz was intoxicated. Officer John Lash, a spokesman for the Solano-area CHP, said Ruiz will be charged with manslaughter.
Mandolph's birth, at Dameron Hospital in 1985, was a difficult one. He had to be delivered by Cesarean section.
"Boy, we almost died together," his mother would later tell him.
He was born with a club foot and wore a cast for years. But by the time he was in high school, he seemed to be a natural athlete. Nothing stopped him.
"If he wanted something, he would get it," Allen said. "He would do the work."
When Mandolph was about 10 years old, his parents separated. Allen worked hard to care for Mandolph and his older sister, Sherell. They moved around the city from apartment to apartment, and once to a duplex. There were always two bedrooms, and Mandolph slept on a couch.
"He never complained about where he slept," Allen said.
He never complained. He worked.
Mandolph left Lincoln High School to work the graveyard shift at a cannery. He saved money to pay his own way through Stockton Christian School and graduated at 18, just a little behind schedule. He called himself a "Super Senior."
He moved to Southern California to study to be an air traffic controller. It didn't work out - homesickness might have played a part - and he moved back. He decided he wanted to be a firefighter, like his uncle, Vaughn Hardiman. He joined the Stockton Auxiliary Firefighters two years ago. He was on the hiring lists at several fire departments in the Bay Area and the Central Valley. He was on Stockton's, as well.
Dozens of Stockton firefighters attended his memorial service. Other auxiliaries stood an honor guard around his casket.
Stockton Fire Capt. Ken Johnson, who works with auxiliaries, said Mandolph had a lot to offer any fire department.
"He meets the absolute model," Johnson said.
Mandolph had two callings - firefighting and church - and he followed both. He became an assistant youth pastor at Christian Life Center.
"He wanted to help people," Allen said.
He helped Regnart, his close friend since the two were teenagers. Watching Mandolph overcome so much was instructive.
"He showed me every day that I could be anything I wanted to be," Regnart said.
And eight days ago, Mandolph was driving to Santa Rosa on Highway 12. He was going to watch a friend who was singing there. He was going to church.
Contact reporter Christian Burkin at (209) 546-8279 or cburkin@recordnet.com.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=mandolph&GSbyrel=in&GSdyrel=in&GSob=n&GRid=34322819&
www.privateschoolreview.com/school_ov/school_id/33415
And a blog from the other victims - http://chrisandashley08.blogspot.com/2009/02/its-miracle.html
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