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Tuesday, Jun. 24, 2008

Trucker's heroism rewarded

Driver used own rig to stop runaway tractor-trailer on 99

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Two and a half months ago, truck driver Damon Gordon put himself in harm's way to stop a runaway tractor-trailer on southbound Highway 99 in Modesto, potentially saving the lives of the driver and other motorists.

The tractor-trailer driven by Kim Kit Murti of West Sacramento, who lost consciousness at the wheel, was involved in a chain of accidents that stretched four miles along the freeway until Gordon took heroic action to bring it to a halt.

The incident drew national attention, earning Gordon awards from federal and state officials Monday. The Modesto resident also talked with Murti for the first time since the April 4 incident.

"He was sent from God, he is a blessing," said Murti, who met with Gordon before a news conference at the California Highway Patrol office in Modesto.

Gordon said he felt more like a hero after meeting with Murti.

"I was glad to talk with him," he said. "He seems like a really special person. He has a good heart, and I was glad to help somebody like that."

John Hill, administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, flew from Washington, D.C., to present Gordon with the Safety Recognition Award.

"We don't know how many innocent mothers and children could have become involved in a crash because of this event," Hill said. "You went beyond what we expect our citizens to do."

Gordon's actions involved quick thinking and courage.

He watched in disbelief as the 2006 Peterbilt, which was hauling furniture to the Room Source store in Modesto, starting veering across the lanes of southbound Highway 99 near the Kiernan Avenue overpass, initially sideswiping another tractor-trailer.

Gordon, hauling a tank of fertilizer for his employer, Ripon Farms, suspected that the truck driver had a health problem, he said. He said his first instinct was to keep his distance as the runaway rig scraped along the concrete highway divider, igniting grass fires between Pelandale and Standiford avenues.

He called his wife, Olivia, from his cell phone to tell her what was going on. Olivia Gordon said she knew her husband would try to protect others from the runaway truck. He is calm under pressure and is concerned about others, she said. She remembered that he intervened a few years ago to keep a stolen vehicle from crashing into a neighbor's home.

In that incident, the driver of a stolen Chevy Blazer jumped out after hitting head-on with another vehicle on their street, and the Blazer went in circles until Gordon ran over, reached in and took it out of gear.

"I was trying to tell him don't get near the (runaway semi), but I knew he would anyway," Olivia Gordon said. "He said he was going to get a little closer and would call back. I didn't get the phone call until after."

Damon Gordon faced a bigger problem in trying to stop a 26,000-pound, twin-axle Peterbilt, traveling at 55 to 75 mph. He saw his chance after Murti's rig went up the Briggsmore Avenue exit and then plunged down the embankment and back onto the highway. It hit the center divider, slowing to about 10 mph.

He pulled alongside and saw Murti was slumped over in the driver's seat. Gordon drove ahead of Murti's rig and parked his truck at an angle in the path of the runaway rig. He got out and sprinted to Murti's truck and jumped on the passenger sidestep.

Gordon said one other motorist was thinking on his feet that day. He was the guy in a green Ford Explorer who pulled alongside the rig to hand him a tire iron, so he could smash the passenger window and pull an air brake to stop the truck.

Without the tool, he doubted he would have gained entry. He never got the man's name after the incident.

After Gordon yanked on the air brake, Murti's rig lightly touched Gordon's truck and stopped.

On Monday, Gordon learned more about what was ailing Murti, who blacked out after a seizure. The seizure possibly was related to being struck with a metal bar in the back of the head during an assault in July.

"We've almost lost him twice in the past year," said Barbara Murti, his wife.

Murti said he remembers picking up a furniture load in Stockton the morning of April 4, but nothing of the incident. When he regained consciousness at Doctors Medical Center, he asked the nurses how he had gotten there.

Murti no longer is driving. The Room Source gave him a job in the receiving department and he is undergoing treatment to prevent seizures. "My boss has always taken care of me," he said.

The Murtis said they intended to return to Highway 99 on Monday to survey the scene. And Murti planned to keep in touch with Gordon.

Gordon also received the "Stanislaus County Hero of the Year" award from the American Red Cross this month, and Reader's Digest called him about doing an article.

Gordon is one of the first community members to receive a Commissioner's Resolution from the CHP.

"Who better to come to the rescue than another truck driver," said CHP Commissioner Joseph Farrow. "You are truly what we call an American hero, because you risked your life to save someone else."

Bee staff writer Ken Carlson can be reached at kcarlson@modbee.com or 578-2321.