CHP officer Eliseo Alatorre – a patrolman who often patrols the Manteca freeways – is being honored today with a Superior Effort Act Award for his quick thinking and heroic actions in saving the life of a young woman clinging to a freeway bridge.

Officer Alatorre arrived on the scene of a traumatic incident on March 22 at about 6:30 p.m. where he found the woman clinging to a chain link fence on the side of a bridge over  Highway 99 at Fremont Avenue.  The woman was facing the oncoming south bound traffic and leaning out with her feet over the side of the ledge and her arms behind her.

The officer said the woman told him she wanted to die and was going to drop off the bridge in front of a big rig as the officer began to calmly talk with the woman to convince her to sidestep the bridge fencing with him for some 25 feet along the bridge until she reached an opening and walked directly into his arms. 

Stockton CHP commander Captain Barry Koenig said that because of his officer’s deep commitment to the citizens of the State of California along with his heroic efforts, Officer Alatorre is richly deserving of this award.