Willie Kouneski, a driver for ABF Freight in Arkansas, has been recognized by the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) for his quick thinking and bravery. While on the road, Kouneski spotted a car that had crashed and immediately pulled over to help. Despite the vehicle being badly damaged and the driver unconscious, Kouneski managed to free him and administer first aid until emergency services arrived. For his heroic actions, Kouneski has been named a Highway Angel.
It happened around 1AM on March 2, when Kouneski was traveling home from work on Route 70 in Sykesville, MD. While traversing the dark highway, the driver noticed a car wrecked on the opposite side of the road.
“I saw a car up in the trees, on the other side of the road,” he said. “I could tell it was a wrecked car— it was dark—people were just driving by.”
Kourneski immediately called 911 and he and the driver of another vehicle stopped to check on the crash victim. Kourneski noted that it was difficult to tell if anyone was in the car and yelled, “Is anyone in there?” to which he heard a single-word response, “Yes.”
“We opened up the door— the other person took out a knife and busted out the back window and unlocked the back doors,” Kouneski said. “The guy in the front seat was leaning over, breathing weird; he had heavy breath, so we sat him up straight in the seat.”
The airbag had deployed and the driver was unconscious. Kourneski stayed with the driver until first responders arrived and took him away on a stretcher.
“If it was me in that car, I would want somebody to get me,” Kouneski said. “I did what I would want anybody to do.”
Source: Highway Angel
