Harbor Police Sergeant Honored for Rescuing Man From Burning Truck

Wednesday, 03 June 2009

A veteran Harbor Police Sergeant was recently recognized by the Burn Institute for his fast action to remove a driver from a burning truck.  Sgt. Salvador Colin, a 23-year veteran of the Harbor Police, received the Exceptional Service Award on May 21 at the organization's 36th Annual Spirit of Courage Awards ceremony.

The rescue took place on November 30, 2008. Colin had just finished his beat as a night watch commander around 1 a.m. when he heard tires squeal and watched as the driver lost control of his speeding vehicle. The truck struck a traffic light in the median of 28th Street and Harbor Drive, rolled over several times and landed on its passenger side with the engine on fire.

Sgt. Colin and two female sailors, Navy Gunner's Mate Jennifer Hendricks and her shipmate Victoria Seike, came upon the crash site together and rushed to help. Colin and Hendricks worked together to remove the driver through the vehicle's rear window.

Hendricks and Seike, were also honored for their efforts, receiving the Burn Institute's Spirit of Courage Award.

"These courageous individuals put their own safety aside to help someone they have never met," said James Floros, Burn Institute Executive Director/CEO. "They are heroes in the truest sense."

Every year, the Burn institute honors people who risked their lives to save another from burn injury or death by fire. Recipients include firefighters, law enforcement personnel and citizens who responded to incidents throughout the county. The Burn Institute is a nonprofit health agency dedicated to reducing the number of burn injuries and deaths in San Diego, Imperial and San Bernardino counties through fire and burn prevention education, burn care research and treatment, and burn survivor support services. For more information, please visit www.burninstitute.org.

The San Diego Harbor Police is the law enforcement arm of the Port of San Diego. The department provides law enforcement, marine fire-fighting services, airport services, public safety and Homeland Security throughout the tidelands and San Diego Bay. Harbor Police Officers patrol San Diego International Airport under contract with the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority.

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