Gustine officers pull trapped motorist from crash along Arizona highway, police say

Andrew Kuhn
·2 min read

Three Gustine Police reserve officers sprang into action to help save a motorist involved in a traffic crash while driving police vehicles from Arizona to California, according to the department.

Police said the reserve officers, Jose Gallardo, Emanuel Gonzalez and Luciano Zelvaggio, had volunteered to drive to New Mexico to pick up two Ford Explorer police vehicles no longer available in California. Just after 12:30 p.m. Monday as the officers were driving the vehicles back to California along westbound Interstate 40 just east of Kingman, Arizona, the officers observed a woman frantically waiving a white rag attempting to get help.

According to the Gustine Police Department, that’s when the officers observed a 2018 Toyota Tacoma on its side in a nearby field. The officers stopped to assist and found a man who was trapped inside the vehicle yelling for help. Officers Zelvaggio and Gallardo ran to the vehicle and after breaking out windows, cut the seat belt strap as smoke was billowing from the engine compartment, according to police. Gustine Police Chief Ruben Chavez said the officers noticed a strong odor of gasoline coming from the vehicle and officer Gonzalez worked to slow traffic while using his knowledge as a diesel mechanic to acquire a fire extinguisher from a passing big rig driver, who is required to have an extinguisher on board.

Authorities said the officers were worried that the vehicle could burst into flames, but after about five minutes, they were able to pull the trapped man from the wreckage. The officers helped the man to one of the police vehicles while assessing his injuries.

Gustine Police Department Reserve Officers Luciano Zelvaggio, left, and Jose Gallardo, right, pull a trapped motorist through the windshield of a crashed vehicle along Interstate 40 near Kingman, Ariz., on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. According to the Gustine Police Department, three reserve officers stopped to pull the trapped man from the wreckage while driving newly acquired police department vehicles to California. Image courtesy of Gustine Police Department.

Chavez said Arizona Department of Public Safety officers arrived about 10 minutes later to take over the crash investigation. The victim suffered moderate injuries and was transported to a hospital by ambulance.

Chavez said the officers had stopped to take some photos with the new vehicles next to an Arizona sign and had they not taken the time to do so, they may not have been around to help the trapped motorist.

“The first thing I thought was these guys are in the right place at the right time,” Chavez said. According to Chavez, the reserve officers who left on Sept. 9 to pick up the vehicles did so on their own time and without pay.

“The fact that they took quick action when nobody else would just makes me proud of them,” said Chavez.

Chavez said it is comforting to know the city has officers who will pitch in when needed. He pointed out that the incident happened on the same date that officers who had the same heart to serve perished in New York City 22 years ago.

“As a Chief, it makes me proud,” said Chavez.

Gustine Police Department Reserve Officer Jose Gallardo, left, along with fellow reserve officers Luciano Zelvaggio and Emanuel Gonzalez, stopped and pulled a motorist from a crashed vehicle along Interstate 40 in Arizona while driving newly acquired police department vehicles back to California on Monday, Sept, 11, 2023, according to the Gustine Police Department. Image courtesy of Gustine Police Department.
Three Gustine Police Department Reserve Officers driving newly acquired vehicles to California on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023, stopped and pulled a motorist from a crashed vehicle in Arizona, according to the Gustine Police Department. Image courtesy of Gustine Police Department.
Three Gustine Police Department Reserve Officers driving newly acquired vehicles to California on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023, stopped and pulled a motorist from a crashed vehicle in Arizona, according to the Gustine Police Department. Image courtesy of Gustine Police Department.