Awarding an act of bravery

Deepa Bharath

A local car dealership will present a special award to a Costa Mesa

police officer at Monday’s City Council meeting for saving the life

of a fellow officer and another man during a Memorial Day high-speed

crash on the freeway.

Officer Tony Yannizzi and his partner, Officer David Dickens, were

riding south on the San Diego Freeway. They were north of Harbor

Boulevard in the carpool lane after completing their shift at about

10 p.m. when an allegedly speeding third motorcycle came from behind

and hit Dickens’ motorcycle.

The motorcyclist, 33-year-old Javier Gasga of Mission Viejo, was

doing at least 100 mph when he struck Dickens’ motorcycle, officials

said.

The impact of the collision catapulted Dickens from his

motorcycle. The officer landed on his partner’s motorcycle and tried

to hang on to Yannizzi’s left leg, but couldn’t maintain his grip.

Dickens then fell on the asphalt and rolled on the freeway.

Gasga was also thrown off his motorcycle, landed on Dickens’

police motorcycle and ended up involuntarily riding it for a quarter

of a mile before crashing onto the freeway.

Yannizzi, a former Marine, stopped his motorcycle and ran back to

the suspect who was lying in the No. 2 lane of the freeway, said

Costa Mesa Police Lt. John FitzPatrick.

“He first pulled the suspect to the shoulder of the freeway to

safety,” he said. “He then ran to aid Officer Dickens, who was

attempting to crawl to the left shoulder of the freeway.”

Yannizzi showed tremendous courage and is truly worthy of the

award, FitzPatrick said.

Matt Moloci, president of Harbor Boulevard of Cars Auto Dealer

Assn., said the award was to recognize the officer for his act of

bravery.

“There is no doubt that Officer Yannizzi’s actions prevented the

possibility of the suspect and Officer Dickens being struck by

oncoming traffic,” Moloci said.

Dickens, who underwent surgery, is recovering at home. The

suspect, Gasga, was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving.