Lodi police officer who saved a man's life honored with Medal of Valor by Newsom, Bonta

Gov. Gavin Newsom and California Attorney General Rob Bonta presented the Governor’s Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor to Lodi Police Department Officer Erika Urrea on Friday, Jan. 14.

Urrea “went above and beyond the call of duty while saving the life of a fellow Californian,” an official email from the Governor’s Office said.

Related: Lodi officer saves disabled man from oncoming train in dramatic rescue

“California is at its best when we look out for one another, and Officer Urrea’s heroic and lifesaving action is an inspiring example to all of us,” Newsom said. “It is an honor to recognize her incredible bravery today and thank her for her unwavering commitment to the people of this state.”

Urrea was driving on East Lodi Avenue on Aug. 12, 2020. When crossing the railroad tracks, she saw that a man — Jonathan Mata — appeared to be struggling with his electric wheelchair on the tracks, the Governor’s Office said.

Urrea then made a U-turn, exited her patrol vehicle and approached Mata to help him. While approaching Mata, the railroad crossing arms lowered and the signals began to sound as a 250-ton freight train rapidly approached them.

“Officer Urrea ran to Mata and, realizing the chair would not move, managed to pull him away from the tracks just as the train passed,” the Governor’s Office said. Both Mata and Urrea were pushed back by the force of the train.

The train struck Mata in the leg, injuring him. He was transported to San Joaquin General Hospital for treatment and later released.

“Without Officer Urrea being alert to her surroundings and quickly responding with no regard for her own safety, Jonathan Mata would have surely been a casualty that day,” the Governor’s Office said.

“The Medal of Valor is the highest honor our state can give to a public safety officer, recognizing those on the frontlines who go above and beyond the call of duty,” Bonta said.

“Officer Erika Urrea went above and beyond. On what was a normal summer day, her brave actions were anything but the norm when she demonstrated great courage — in the face of great danger — by rescuing a fellow citizen from the brink of life-ending tragedy,” he said. “Her valor represents the very best of the California spirit.”

The Medal of Valor ceremony was hosted virtually and published online for the public to access. You can watch it at youtu.be/WYElcLouldY.

Record reporter Laura Diaz covers social justice and societal issues. She can be reached at ldiaz@recordnet.com or on Twitter @laurasdiaz_. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at recordnet.com/subscribenow.

This article originally appeared on The Record: Newsom, Bonta honor Lodi police Officer Urrea with Medal of Valor