SALT LAKE CITY—Tech. Sgt. Erik Bornemeier, who also serves as a volunteer commander with the Davis County Search and Rescue, was presented with the Utah Cross on Monday for his bravery above and beyond the call of duty.

The Utah Cross is the second highest state award in the Utah National Guard. Bornemeier was honored for his quick actions when he crossed active lanes of traffic to provide critical care to the victim of a vehicle/motorcycle accident on June 2, 2020. 

“It was just about rush hour,” said Bornemeier. “It was 5:30 in the morning and I was on my way to work at the Mountain America Expo Center. It was on State and 7200 South.”

The accident had just happened, he said. “I always carry a medical kit with me. I took a deep breath, grabbed my medical kit, made sure nobody was in that lane and that everybody was safe and then I rendered aid to that individual. I focused on the life threatening injuries and applied a tourniquet to stop the bleeding. All the while the fire department was in route. The immediate task at hand was getting him to higher care.”

Bornemeier serves as a medical technician assigned to the 151st Medical Group, Detachment-1, 151st Air Refueling Wing and is part of search and rescue with the Davis County Sheriff’s Office. 

“I have some training,” he said. “I’m an EMT and we have monthly training on our skills. With search and rescue we have real world training. I’ve spent five years in the ER and have had trauma training where we deal with these exact injuries.”

Maj. Daniel Wheatley met Bornemeier last year when they worked together on the COVID-19 task force. “He’s obviously very knowledgeable,” he said. “He’s the main one who stood up the testing operation. He deserves full credit for that. He knows his stuff and he’s out in the community and cares about others.”

Wheatley said Bornemeier barely mentioned the accident when he came in that morning. “He acted like it was just another day. We had to dig to get the details from him. He does the hard work and doesn’t look for credit. It’s an honor to work with someone like Sgt. Bornemeier.”

Bornemeier said the award is a high honor for him. “It validates all the years of training and all the practical experience. It’s a tribute to all my teammates as well.”

It’s a team effort, he said. “My very equal counterparts assisted as well. They were able to offer that continued care to the hospital. I’m glad to be of help and to have the training and the equipment too. We’re always taught to be serving.”

Bornemeier later learned that the injured motorcyclist succumbed to their injuries and had passed away. He was able to contact the family and pass along the individual’s final message. “It’s sacred to be able to receive those last words,” he said. “It was an absolute honor to be able to share them with the victim’s family.”