When independent contractor Oleksandr Tkachuk pulled his rig over on the side of the road in Hardisty, he wasn’t thinking about awards or recognition—he just knew someone needed help.
Tkachuk, who drives for Trimac Transportation out of Calgary and is based in Edmonton, has been named a TCA Highway Angel for jumping into action when a young motorist suffered a medical emergency and went down.
It happened on May 5, when Tkachuk noticed a vehicle pulled onto the shoulder. What he saw next stopped him in his tracks.
“On the side of the road, I saw a vehicle and two young people were helping a young man, probably about 25, who was on the ground,” he recalled. “I didn’t see anyone else, so I thought that I should stop.”
Tkachuk quickly assessed the scene. The man was unresponsive, and his younger brother, visibly distraught, was trying to perform CPR. That’s when Tkachuk stepped in and took over.
“I was trained in CPR, and I was hoping that I wouldn’t have to use it in my life, but I needed to use it,” he said. “I was doing chest compressions for this guy who was on the ground.”
With emergency services still en route, the bystanders held a phone on speaker so Tkachuk could follow the dispatcher’s instructions while performing CPR. He continued compressions for nearly 20 minutes until first responders arrived to take over.
“I was hoping to see if he survived or not, but I don’t know,” Tkachuk shared. “I was doing what I was trained to do.”
Though the outcome remains unknown, his actions that day were nothing short of heroic—and the Truckload Carriers Association took notice.
In honoring Tkachuk as a Highway Angel, the TCA recognized not just the CPR itself, but the selflessness, calm under pressure, and willingness to stop for someone in need.
Stories like these are why many in the industry say trucking isn’t just a job—it’s a calling. Drivers like Tkachuk aren’t just moving freight; they’re making a difference where it matters most.
To read more about professional drivers who’ve stepped up in emergencies, visit the Highway Angel program page.
Image Source: TCA
Source: The Trucker
