Marine gunny receives medal for saving biker’s life after California crash

On a heat Sunday in April, Gunnery Sgt. Christopher Goad was cruising alongside a California state freeway, slicing by means of farmland and small desert mountain cities, and listening to the engines roar on his fellow Marine Riders Iwo Jima bike membership.

Because the San Diego-based group neared Julian, California on Route 76, Goad’s eager eye caught a glimpse of a rider up forward making an uphill proper flip.

The rider collided with a sport utility car because the membership rolled by.

Your entire group instantly circled again and Goad noticed the SUV driver reversing the car from on prime of the downed rider.

What Goad would do subsequent saved the rider’s life and resulted in his award of the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal on July 1.

“Gunnery Sgt. Goad embodied a bias for motion and acted when others selected the function of bystander,” stated Lt. Col. Jeffrey Davis, commanding officer of VMFA-314. “He saved somebody’s life, and his actions are a testomony to his character and management.”

Goad was no beginner rider himself.

He serves as president of his unit’s VMFA-314 bike membership, with the Marine Fighter Assault Squadron 314, Marine Plane Group 11, third Marine Plane Wing, in keeping with a Marine Corps press launch. That’s along with his private driving time with the Iwo Jima membership.

Very similar to having day without work from a jet cockpit, Goad stated that when rider’s haven’t saddled up in awhile they should ease again into it.

“Using bikes is a perishable ability, similar to getting again into airplanes,” Goad stated.

By means of the Corps’ Motorbike Mentorship Program and his unit’s membership, Goad runs quarterly rides and security checks with fellow Marines.

California has 800,000 registered bikes and extra riders than some other state, in keeping with the Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration. Bikes made up 3.5% of all registered automobiles within the U.S. in 2021; they tallied 14% of motor vehicle-related fatalities that yr.

Since October 2023 there have been 19 deadly personal motorcar fatalities and 10, or greater than half, concerned a motorbike, in keeping with the latest Marine Corps on and off-duty mishap information.

One other Marine bike fatality occurred on obligation throughout a command group experience in March.

Six Marines died in bike incidents in 2023.

Whereas in uniform, Goad serves as a powerline division chief along with his unit.

The gunny has spent greater than 14 years hustling on busy airfields and flight decks as jets and helicopters roar round him and his crew.

“Situational consciousness on the flight deck is paramount,” Goad stated. “We inform these Marines to continuously look left, look proper. Each two seconds. As a result of one second may imply your life.”

Again on that state freeway, one among Goad’s fellow riders began assessing the downed rider as Goad started triage.

He used a belt to use a tourniquet above the rider’s knee after which seen one other rupture, making use of a second tourniquet from a primary help equipment from his bike.

Emergency staff would later inform Goad that with out these tourniquets the rider’s blood loss would have been deadly.

“I feel it comes all the way down to intuition. I’m very conscious of my environment, Goad stated. “I’ve additionally discovered hesitating on the improper second may imply life or demise.”