CHP officer, citizens save San Andreas man from burning wreck after Saturday crash

A California Highway Patrol officer and some fast-acting citizens saved a 57-year-old man from a burning pickup that caught on fire after a head-on collision with an SUV Saturday afternoon near San Andreas, though the other driver did not survive the crash.

Rodney L. Patrick, of San Andreas, suffered major injuries and was flown from the scene via helicopter to UC Davis Medical Center for treatment, the CHP said in a news release. The name, age, gender and town of residence of the driver who died was not released pending family notification.

“The CHP would like to thank the citizens that risked harm to assist the involved parties in this collision,” the agency stated in the release. “Their actions likely saved (Patrick’s) life.”

The release said CHP dispatchers began receiving calls at 5:12 p.m. Saturday about a traffic collision with vehicles on fire on Highway 49 south of Gold Strike Road.

A preliminary investigation by the CHP showed the driver who died was traveling south on Highway 49 in a 2001 Ford Expedition at a high rate of speed, while Patrick was driving north in a 2014 Dodge Ram 1500 at about 55 mph.

For an unknown reason, the CHP said the deceased driver allowed the Ford to cross into the northbound lane and lost control of the vehicle while turning it to the right. Patrick attempted to avoid the oncoming vehicle by swerving to the left, but the vehicles collided.

The impact was reportedly so severe that the Ford immediately caught fire, causing fatal injuries to the driver, the CHP said.

Patrick was trapped in the driver’s seat of the Dodge due to major front-end damage it sustained. The pickup also began to burn due to the fire engulfing the Ford, according to the release.

Multiple citizens who witnessed the collision or stopped shortly after it happened began trying to remove Patrick from the burning vehicle.

The release said San Andreas CHP Officer Tobias Butzler arrived about seven minutes after the crash and helped the citizens to free Patrick despite intense heat from the fire, just as the passenger side became engulfed in flames.

Patrick was provided life-saving medical care by emergency personnel at the scene before being flown to the hospital in Davis.

It is currently unknown whether drugs or alcohol contributed to the collision, the CHP said.

Anyone who witnessed the crash or has information to provide regarding what the deceased driver was doing beforehand is asked to contact the San Andreas CHP office during business hours at (209) 754-3541.