In a heartwarming act of kindness, truck driver Jesse Harlander, hailing from Holdingford, MN, has been recognized as a Highway Angel by the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA). Harlander, an employee of Brenny Specialized, Inc. based in St. Joseph, MN, went above and beyond the call of duty when he contacted the police and rescued a frightened 12-year-old boy who had gotten lost in a cemetery at night.
It all unfolded on April 11, 2023, when Harlander arrived at a sprawling cemetery in Indianapolis, IN, where he was scheduled to deliver a large load of granite the next morning. Wanting to be prepared for an early start, he parked his truck within the cemetery grounds and settled in for the night, engrossed in a book.
As darkness fell around 8:30 p.m., a knock on Harlander’s truck door startled him. To his surprise, there stood a young boy, clearly disoriented and in distress. Never one to turn a blind eye, Harlander rolled down his window and asked if he needed help.
“He said yeah — ‘help me — get me out of here!’” recalled Harlander.
Harlander called 911 to report the child’s predicament and alert the police. It was later revealed by the police that the boy had initially intended to go to a playground but got lost when he attempted a shortcut through the cemetery. While waiting for the police, Harlander let the boy explore the inside of his truck. The boy shared his dream of playing in the NBA someday. Eventually, the police arrived and safely returned the boy to his home.
“It was pretty bizarre,” Harlander said. “I’m glad he got out of there.”
Source: Highway Angel
