Ty Hinton, a truck driver from Louisiana with Melton Truck Lines in Tulsa, OK has been recognized as an exemplary highway hero. The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) named him Highway Angel for his incredible act of kindness – helping to save the life of a man having stroke at a truck stop parking lot.
On a late February evening, Oklahoma City’s Flying J Travel Center parking lot became the site of an urgent intervention by Hinton. Witnessing the man collapse due to a stroke, he leapt into action at once – equipped with essential knowledge on recognizing the signs of a stroke which he learned at an early age. Promptly calling for medical assistance gave hope that this driver in distress could receive timely help and make it out alive from what was surely one harrowing experience.
“I heard something hit the side of my truck, and I saw the guy stumbling by the side of the trailer kinda hanging on to it — it was pretty obvious right away,” he said. “Just looking at the guy – slurring his speech, the left side of his face was not working; I called the EMT and got them to come to the truck stop.”
Hinton even called the man’s wife to let her know what was happening as he waited with him for first responders to arrive. He stayed and spoke with them both until the man was taken to the hospital.
“I just wanted to make sure he was as comfortable as possible,” he said. “I know strokes can be bad enough to be fatal and I wanted to give him the opportunity to hear his wife’s voice — if I was going through that, I know that is the one person I would want to hear; my wife.”
Source: Highway Angel
