2003 Trooper of the Year

Rios Selected as Trooper of the Year

Trooper Luis Noel Rios has been selected as the 2003 “Trooper of The Year” for his quick actions and assistance in helping the victims of an Amtrak train derailment near Crescent City where 166 passengers were injured and 4 killed.

On April 18, 2002, Trooper Rios was investigating a traffic crash in Crescent City when he received a call about an Amtrak train derailment in the area. Trooper Rios immediately responded and quickly arrived on the scene to assess the severity of the situation and to relay vital information to the FHP communications center and other responding emergency medical personnel.

A total of twenty-one cars had derailed: seven auto transporters and fourteen passenger cars. The derailed cars were violently thrown from the tracks and overturned onto their sides, trapping the passengers inside. The undercarriage and coupling devices of the passenger cars were charged with 2,000 volts of electricity. Nevertheless, without regard for his own personal safety, Trooper Rios climbed over and through high voltage wires to reach dozens of crash victims in need.

Trooper Rios remained inside the overturned passenger cars for nearly two hours, climbing from car to car, rendering first aid to injured passengers, directing those who could walk to safe exit points, and continuing his rescue efforts to the point of near exhaustion until all of the passengers were safely removed from the wreckage.