Retired officer honored with medal for rescue efforts in deadly Highway 99 DUI crash
Retired correctional officer Jeffery Bargstadt was awarded a Gold Medal of Honor at the Correction Department’s 40th Medal of Valor ceremony for his efforts to save a man’s life after a tragic crash on Highway 99.
GALT, Calif. —
A retired correctional officer is being honored for his efforts to save a man involved in a deadly crash along Highway 99.
Jeffery Bargstadt received a Gold Medal of Honor during the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s 40th Medal of Valor ceremony in Galt.
The award comes nine months after a day Bargstadt said he will never forget.
Last November, Bargstadt and his wife, Paula, were heading to work along Highway 99 when they spotted Inderjit Ahluwalia’s wrecked car near Arch Road.
Bargstadt stopped and tried to pull Ahluwalia from his vehicle.
Before he could get Ahluwalia out, a drunk driver crashed into Ahluwalia’s car while traveling 117 mph.
Ahluwalia did not survive.
“I would do it again tomorrow or on my way home from this Medal of Valor ceremony. It’s just something I think everybody should do,” Bargstadt said.
Bargstadt said the experience has stayed with him, but having his wife by his side has helped him cope with what happened.
“I never had to deal with survivors’ guilt. It’s extremely tough to deal with, and having my wife there that was also a part of the accident, like I said, is a huge help to get through the days,” he said.
In the months since the crash, Bargstadt has also formed a bond with Ahluwalia’s family, including his daughter, Charanjit.
“We text weekly with them, we talk at least once a month with them. It’s great to be so close to such a family during such a tragedy,” Bargstadt said.
Ahluwalia’s family watched from the audience as Bargstadt received his Gold Medal of Honor.
Bargstadt said Ahluwalia’s wife told him, “God may have taken my husband, but he brought me a new family.”
“So, that’s very touching to my wife and I,” Bargstadt said.
While Bargstadt said he is honored to receive the medal, he hopes people remember a bigger message from what happened: Don’t drink and drive.
“To make such a choice to drink and drive, I just don’t understand when there’s so many available options – taxi services, Uber, Lyft or even [calling] a friend,” Bargstadt said. “Or even if I’m at a bar and you’ve been drinking too much. Ask me and I’ll take you home.”
Ahluwalia’s family did not want to appear on camera. They told KCRA 3 they were honored to see Bargstadt receive the medal.
The family said Bargstadt’s actions at the scene of the crash helped them get justice for their loved one.
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