CHP Presents First Award in Honor of Officer Killed in 2009 Accelerator Pedal Crash

It's an award for someone committed. Someone enthusiastic. Someone able to connect with people on the job.

Everything was.

The CHP on Wednesday presented the first Mark Wesley Saylor Memorial Award to certified school bus driver instructor Corey Patton, in honor of the late officer. Saylor, along with his wife Cleofe, 13-year-old daughter Mahala and brother-in-law Chris Lastrella, was in Santee when the accelerator pedal in the rented Lexus he was driving got stuck and the vehicle crashed.

A massive followed the accident.

Saylor's mother, Joan Robbins, shook with tears as a CHP officer held up the during a ceremony at the Poway Unified School District Twin Peaks Center on Wednesday. Also present for the inaugural award presentation were Saylor's stepfather, Barry Robbins, and the parents of Saylor's wife, Fe and Cleto Lastrella.

Saylor, a veteran CHP officer, served as the coordinator for the school bus driver program.

"Mark was a wonderful man, a wonderful officer and this is a wonderful tribute," CHP Capt. Rich Stewart said before presenting the award to Patton, who is a training manager for Coach America.

Patton, who said he has been a bus driver since 1992 and an instructor since 2006, said he was "flattered" to receive the award created to keep Saylor's spirit alive.

"He was tragically taken. We wanted to honor him in some way," Patton said.

Stewart said Patton was chosen from several nominees because of his enthusiasm, fundraising efforts and role in helping create the award. Patton also has served as president of the San Diego Instructors Council. His 10-year-old son Nicolas, who said he wants to be a CHP officer, also was on hand to see his father receive the award.

The award is expected to be given out for the next 15 years, Patton said, and a plaque honoring Saylor, who served in the United States Air Force, should soon be included at the Mount Soledad Veterans Memorial.