Truck driver Tommy Burgoon, from Wapakoneta, Ohio, has been honored by the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) for his courageous actions at the scene of a severe head-on collision. Burgoon, who drives for ABF Freight based in Fort Smith, Arkansas, was officially named a TCA Highway Angel for stepping in to assist during the life-threatening incident.
The Incident on Interstate 471
Around 1:30 a.m., Burgoon came across a devastating crash on Interstate 471 near Exit 2 in Cincinnati. The collision involved a car traveling the wrong way on the interstate and a semi-truck heading northbound. The impact, according to Burgoon, occurred at approximately 70 miles per hour.
“I came up on a wreck that just happened,” he recalled. “I’m pretty sure they were going 70 miles an hour driving straight into each other. I just know [the car] was on the wrong side of the highway and went head-on with that truck.”
The aftermath left the car in flames, with the driver trapped inside. Acting quickly, Burgoon stopped his truck and rushed to assist. He extinguished the fire around the driver’s feet, put out flames engulfing the car’s front end, and cut the driver’s seatbelt. Working alongside first responders, Burgoon helped move the injured man to safety.
The crash victim suffered significant injuries, including severe damage to his left arm and deep facial wounds. Reflecting on the situation, Burgoon said, “I got his seatbelt undone, but I don’t think there would have been any way we could’ve pried him out of there. He was in there pretty good.”
Drawing on Army Training to Save a Life
Burgoon, a truck driver of 10 years, credits his Army training for helping him stay composed and act decisively. When asked about his willingness to help, he explained how his values guided his actions.
“You do what you can do,” he said. “There’s no way I could just leave him in there; it’s absurd to me to even think that.” Burgoon emphasized that he would want someone to do the same if it were his family member in trouble.
Recognition as a Highway Angel
Burgoon’s bravery and selflessness have earned him the esteemed title of TCA Highway Angel. The program celebrates truck drivers who go above and beyond to demonstrate compassion and courage while out on the road.
Source: Truckers News
Image: Tommy Burgoon, Truckers News
