On a regular run through Kuttawa, Kentucky, truck driver Jeanine Reinhad didn’t expect her day to take a turn—but when she came across a fellow driver in distress, she didn’t hesitate to act. Now, Reinhad, who lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, is being recognized as a TCA Highway Angel for her quick response and calm under pressure.
The incident happened around noon on June 17. Reinhad, a professional driver with Halvor Lines Inc. out of Superior, Wisconsin, had only been with the company for two weeks when she came upon a vehicle stopped at a weigh station exit. The truck was blocking traffic, and something didn’t seem right.
“I said, ‘Are you okay?’” Reinhad recalled. “He couldn’t talk; I said, ‘Do you need medical attention?’ It took me forever to call 911. Can you believe 911 never answered?”
Unable to get through to emergency dispatch, she reached out to a nearby county’s state police, who then connected her with the right responders. Reinhad stayed with the man, who was on oxygen, until help arrived. First responders were able to assist the driver, and state troopers moved his truck safely out of the way.
“He was an older gentleman — hopefully he was okay,” she added.
The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) honored Reinhad with a Highway Angel award for her actions. Since the program began in 1997, the TCA has recognized nearly 1,500 truck drivers who’ve gone above and beyond to help others while on the road. Sponsors, including EpicVue, DriverFacts, and Northland Insurance, support the program.
Reinhad’s quick thinking and willingness to step in highlight the kind of support truckers often provide for one another—especially in moments when every second counts.
Image and Source: Truckers News
