Quick thinking on the road has earned professional driver Ron Ross of Newport, Tennessee, the honor of being named a Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) Highway Angel.
Ross, who drives for MCK Trucking Inc. based in Madison, Alabama, was recognized for contacting authorities and helping law enforcement rescue a young woman from an abductor earlier this year.
The incident happened on February 25 around 4 p.m. while Ross was parked at a rest area off I-40 in rural West Tennessee near Jackson. From inside his truck, he noticed a girl running barefoot with her shoes in hand.
“This young girl went running to the right of my truck in the grass with shoes in her hand,” Ross recalled. “I thought in my head, ‘something’s not right about that’.”
Ross watched as she sprinted about a quarter mile before disappearing into the woods. Moments later, a man followed, running directly after her.
“It scared me,” Ross said. “I went and called 911.”
A Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper arrived within minutes and was able to intervene, rescuing the young woman who, according to law enforcement, had been abducted in California. Ross also handed over video footage from his Samsara windshield camera, which authorities say will serve as critical evidence in the prosecution of the abductor.
Still shaken, Ross later asked another truck driver at the scene:
“Did I just save that girl’s life? I hope I did.”
David Wheeler, Safety Director at MCK Transportation, praised Ross for taking action and highlighted the importance of professional drivers speaking up when something seems wrong.
“MCK is grateful to have a driver like Ron who makes a difference in the world,” Wheeler said.
Ross’s recognition as a TCA Highway Angel is part of the program’s ongoing effort to spotlight truck drivers who go above and beyond to keep others safe on America’s highways.
Image Source: TCA
Source: The Trucker
