Terry Whittington, an employee of ABF Freight in Fort Smith, Arkansas, has been recognized by the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) as a Highway Angel for his heroic efforts in assisting a fellow truck driver in distress.
On March 11 at 2:40 a.m., Whittington was driving on I-40 near the Kelbaker exit in Amboy, CA, when he witnessed a truck crash into a ditch on the side of the highway. Without hesitation, Whittington stopped to provide aid to the driver.
This incredible act of kindness and bravery is a reminder of the true heroism that exists within the trucking industry.
“The guy almost ran into me,” he said. “He was doing about 80, he kept going back and forth, and then he went off into the ditch — he never hit his breaks.”
Whittington took quick action by pulling over to the side of the road, calling 911, and rushing down to the ditch where the truck crashed. He stayed with the driver until help arrived, suspecting the driver fell asleep while driving.
“He was still half asleep after the whole ordeal,” he said about the trucker, after the California Highway Patrol pulled him out of his truck, uninjured. “The truck and trailer were severely damaged — it was a violent crash.”
After 25 years of truck driving experience, Whittington noted that the crash site was hidden from the road and may have gone unnoticed by drivers on the highway if he hadn’t witnessed it.
“If you crash, I’ll stop every time to help,” he said. “I’ve just always stopped.”
Source: Highway Angel
