Here are the drivers whose actions earned them the Highway Angel title, along with the stories behind those moments.

John Patterson

Melton Truck Lines, Tulsa, Oklahoma

While heading to pick up a load in Tulsa on June 9, 2025, John Patterson watched two cars collide right in front of him. One vehicle ended up in a ditch and was filled with smoke. The door was stuck, and the driver was unconscious and bleeding. Patterson forced the door open, got the driver out, and moved him to safety.

“They were trapped; there was a little bit of blood, and there was smoke everywhere,” he said. “That’s why I got them out because there was smoke everywhere.”

The second vehicle had crashed into another ditch with two passengers who only spoke French. Patterson broke the window, pulled them out, and used his medical kit to treat their injuries.

“Somebody was in danger, somebody was hurt and stuck,” Patterson said. “If it were you, you’d want somebody to come help you.”

Dee Leatherwood

Melton Truck Lines, Tulsa, Oklahoma

On July 10, 2025, near Atlanta, Dee Leatherwood spotted smoke and sparks under a pickup. When the driver stopped on the shoulder, Leatherwood noticed a child’s car seat and reacted instantly. He parked, grabbed his extinguisher, and knocked down the flames before they spread.

“I looked at that car seat and luckily there wasn’t a baby in it,” he said. “I kept the fire as low as I could until the fire department arrived.”

His quick response kept the situation from turning catastrophic.

“I wasn’t worried about anything other than if there was a little one inside that pickup truck,” he said. “I would hope that anyone would do that in that situation, whether they had a fire extinguisher or not.”

Kevin Wojtasiak

Bay and Bay Transportation, Eagan, Minnesota

Just before dawn on June 29, 2025, Kevin Wojtasiak witnessed a vehicle completely engulfed in flames on Interstate 35 in Minnesota. He stopped immediately and helped the driver and three passengers get to safety, offering water and reassurance while waiting for emergency crews.

“They hit a deer. I saw a dead deer in the road, and all of a sudden I saw a flaming vehicle,” he said. “A fire extinguisher wouldn’t have done any good. The vehicle was totally engulfed in flames.”

With more than two million safe miles, Wojtasiak’s reaction was no surprise to those who know him.

“We are incredibly proud of Kevin for his heroic actions,” said Savannah Snelgrove, marketing manager at Bay and Bay Transportation. “He represents the highest standards of our company and the trucking industry as a whole. Being named a TCA Highway Angel is a well-deserved honor.”

Amy Cataldo

Boyle Transportation, Billerica, Massachusetts

Early in the morning near Amarillo on September 24, 2025, Amy Cataldo watched a truck overturn in front of her during wet road conditions. She slowed, hit her flashers, called 911, and ran to help the injured driver.

“His tires went off the road. It was in a construction zone, it had been raining, and there was mud from the construction on the road. I feel so bad for this driver,” she said.

The driver was disoriented and bleeding. Cataldo stayed with him and kept him calm until help arrived.

“The poor kid was really cut up. He was bleeding on his arms and his knuckles,” she said.
“What I did was what I would hope any other driver would do.”

Alexander Smith

Melton Truck Lines, Tulsa, Oklahoma

At about 2 a.m. on June 18, 2025, during heavy rain on Interstate 44, Alexander Smith watched a car hydroplane after passing him and another truck. The vehicle flipped multiple times before landing upright in the ditch. The other truck kept going, but Smith stopped and ran to the wreck.

“Honestly, after watching what happened, I thought, There’s no way this guy is alive,” Smith said.

The driver survived with cuts and scrapes and asked Smith to help find his phone. Smith got him out of the car, called 911, and stayed with him until responders arrived.

“I stopped because I was there,” Smith said. “Who else was gonna do it? I believe that you’re put in places for a reason.”

Kevin Olsen

Truline Corp., Las Vegas, Nevada

On June 4, 2025, Kevin Olsen saw a motorcyclist lose control and crash on U.S. 89 North in Garden City, Utah. With no cell service in the area, Olsen checked on the rider, who was having trouble breathing.

“I came to a stop and went to assess the situation,” he said. “He was having trouble breathing. I think it was as a result of the impact with the road.”

He provided ibuprofen and water and remained on scene for more than ninety minutes until help could be reached through another motorist’s satellite phone. He also slowed traffic to prevent additional crashes.

“I didn’t want to leave him hanging,” Olsen said. “I ride a motorcycle myself, and this easily could have been me. I felt like it was my responsibility to make sure he was taken care of.”

Jeanine Reinhard

Halvor Lines Inc., Superior, Wisconsin

At a weigh station in Kuttawa, Kentucky, on June 17, 2025, Jeanine Reinhard noticed another truck blocking the exit. When she walked up to the cab, she saw the driver was unresponsive and using an oxygen tank.

“I said, Are you okay? ‘” she said. “He couldn’t talk, so I said, Do you need medical attention”

She tried calling 911 and could not get an answer, but managed to reach the Kentucky State Police through another county. She stayed with the driver until first responders removed him from the truck and cleared the path.

“He was an older gentleman; hopefully, he was okay,” Reinhard said.

Terry Walde

Searcy Trucking Ltd., Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

On May 27, 2025, around midday on Highway 1 in Saskatchewan, Terry Walde slowed for debris and quickly realized a cyclist had been struck in a hit-and-run by a semi. The injuries were severe, and another driver called 911 while Walde tended to the victim.

“I saw the bicycle and I also saw the guy lying there beside the bicycle,” Walde said.

The cyclist suffered fractures and had trouble breathing. Tire tracks showed the truck had run over the victim before leaving the scene.

“You could see the right tire tracks of the tractor-trailer went right over him on the grass,” Walde said.

Walde stayed for hours directing traffic until emergency crews arrived. Dash cam footage from his company later helped identify the hit-and-run driver.

“I’m old school, it’s the way I was taught,” Walde said. “We help each other.”

Recognizing Drivers Who Go Above and Beyond

Recipients receive a certificate, lapel pin, patches, and truck decals. Their companies are also recognized for their drivers’ actions. Since the Highway Angels program began in 1997, nearly fourteen hundred drivers have been honored.

Want to nominate a fellow driver or learn more about TCA Highway Angels? Visit highwayangel.org to read stories, submit nominations, and celebrate the heroes of the road.

Source: The Trucker

The post Honoring Highway Angels Who Stepped Up When It Mattered Most appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

These heroes were officially recognized at a special awards luncheon on March 17 at TCA’s annual convention in Phoenix, Arizona. The awards are made possible through sponsorship from EpicVue and Northland Insurance.

Meet the 2024 TCA Highway Angels of the Year:

Jason Corino

On November 29, 2023, while driving on US 491 in Cortez, Colorado, Jason Corino found himself in the middle of a horrifying road rage incident that escalated into an attack on a police officer. Corino saw a suspect get out of their vehicle and open fire on the officer during a traffic stop. Acting without hesitation, Corino slammed on his brakes to halt traffic behind him, potentially saving numerous lives. His truck’s camera captured the shocking incident and became key evidence in the investigation. Tragically, the officer did not survive, and the suspect was later fatally shot by law enforcement. Corino’s quick thinking and decisive actions were instrumental in protecting others on the road and assisting the investigation.

Michael Dorsey

September 26, 2024, was a day of disaster in Erwin, Tennessee, as Hurricane Helene’s floodwaters rose rapidly and overwhelmed the area. Loading his flatbed truck at the time, Michael Dorsey quickly realized the danger. He allowed 10 people seeking safety to find refuge on his truck trailer. The floodwaters soon swept the group away, forcing everyone to cling to the trailer for survival. Knocked unconscious at one point, Dorsey did not give up. His bravery and determination ultimately saved six lives in a chaotic and life-threatening situation. Dorsey is a shining example of resilience and selflessness in the face of disaster.

Daljit Sohi

On November 29, 2024, while driving from Banff to Salmon Arm, Canada, Daljit Sohi witnessed a woman accidentally drop her purse at a rest stop. The purse contained $1,100 in cash, a gold chain, and essential personal belongings. Sohi selflessly retrieved the purse and pursued the woman and her family for three hours to return it. When he finally caught up and gave the purse back intact, the woman offered him a reward, which he declined. Sohi’s act of kindness and integrity underscores his immense generosity, earning him a well-deserved spot as a Highway Angel.

Celebrating Their Heroism

These extraordinary individuals were each honored with a complimentary EpicVue satellite TV package. The package includes a 24-inch flatscreen TV, a DVR, and a one-year subscription to DIRECTV, which features over 100 channels, including HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, and NFL Sunday Ticket.

About the TCA Highway Angel Program

Since 1997, the TCA Highway Angel program has recognized professional truck drivers who go above and beyond to assist or protect others. Each year, a select group of these drivers is celebrated for embodying the program’s values of kindness, bravery, and selflessness, and one is chosen as Highway Angel of the Year.

To learn more about the TCA Highway Angel program or to nominate a deserving driver, visit www.highwayangel.org.

The TCA Highway Angel program is made possible through sponsorship from EpicVue, Northland Insurance, and DriverFacts.

Source: Truckers News
Image Sources: Truckers News

The post Three Outstanding Truck Drivers Honored with TCA’s Highway Angel of the Year Awards appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.