MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- OCEANSIDE -- A local police officer nearly lost his life last summer in a fiery crash. Instead, he lost only 2 percent of a foot.
He credits a Pendleton Marine with ensuring the outcome wasn't far worse.
Lance Cpl. David A. Zeak accepted the Distinguished Community Service Award June 1 at City Hall for his efforts to save Oceanside police officer Matthew J. Parenteau. Oceanside Mayor Jim Wood and Chief of Police Jerome Lance presented the award.
It was early in the morning Sept. 12, 2004, when Parenteau received a call for backup on his car radio.
Responding to the call, Parenteau lost control of his vehicle and crashed.
"I remember coming to (consciousness) -- the vehicle was on fire," Parenteau said. "I tried to realize where I was and I unbuckled my seat belt. I attempted to open the door but it was jammed. I tried to climb out the window because it was busted. then I realized I couldn't, because my right leg was jammed in the firewall, the console.
"Everything was crushed on my right leg. I couldn't get out."
That's when Zeak and others saw the vehicle that imprisoned Parenteau.
"At the point he came along, my (right) foot was caught on fire, so I directed him to the trunk to get the fire extinguisher," said Parenteau, a former Army Ranger.
"As he went to get the extinguisher, I tried again to get out, but the 18 inches between the seat and the steering wheel wasn't enough," Pareteau said.
"(Zeak) ran and asked what I needed. I told him I was stuck in the car and my foot was on fire."
The fire extinguisher didn't work. Zeak improvised. He hurriedly collected water from a nearby gutter by cupping his hands, Parenteau said.
"When I had my accident, I ran into a water main," Parenteau explained. Zeak doused the flames by splashing water on Parenteau's toes. "I just did all I could to help," said Zeak, with Combat Service Support Company 117, 1st Combat Logistics Battalion here.
Still dazed, Parenteau asked Zeak where he was so he could call for backup, he said.
"I then radioed '1199' (officer in distress) ... even though Oceanside residents in the neighborhood had already called in because they could smell the fire," Parenteau said.
Within seconds, three officers broke through the car door and yanked Parenteau out of the burning vehicle.
"Then -- 20-30 seconds after that -- the car burst into flames, and it melted to the ground," Parenteau said. "It had a gas leak; it was bound to explode."
Paramedics arrived shortly thereafter and whisked Parenteau to Tri-City Medical Center, where he was airlifted to Scripps Hospital in La Jolla for further treatment.
After six surgeries to repair his injured foot, Parenteau returned to work in February. He remains on light duty.
Parenteau believes he may have died -- or sustained more severe injuries -- if not for Zeak.
Reggie Grigsby, an OPD police captain, said Zeak typifies the resourcefulness and professionalism young Marines often exhibit.
"I'm impressed with the maturity and composure Marines show at such a young age," he said.
Police officers and servicemembers have a "kindred spirit," he added.
"It's good that we can depend on the guys in green to look out for the boys in blue," Grigsby said.