When things go wrong out on the highway, it is often a truck driver who stops to lend a hand. That is exactly what happened earlier this year in Dale, Indiana, when two Penske Logistics drivers, Casey Ford and Dan Svec, stepped in to help three crash victims.
Their actions earned them the Truckload Carriers Association’s Highway Angel award, an honor reserved for professional drivers who go above and beyond to help others on the road.
On the morning of February 11, Ford was heading west on Highway 64 when he came across a car that had flipped onto its side and was starting to smoke. Inside were two women and a child trapped in the wreck.
Without hesitating, Ford parked his truck safely on the shoulder, called 911, and ran toward the vehicle. Almost at the same moment, another Penske driver, Dan Svec, arrived at the scene and stopped to assist.
“I almost cried right there because he stopped, because nobody else would,” Ford later recalled.
Working together with another motorist, the two drivers managed to free everyone from the car. Ford focused on helping the young boy, who seemed unharmed, while Svec pulled the two women out through a broken side window. One woman appeared to have a cut on her ankle, but thanks to their quick thinking and calm response, everyone made it out safely before emergency crews arrived.
“I’m glad we could be there to help,” Ford said.
Their story is a reminder of what truckers do best, showing courage, compassion, and professionalism even when off the clock.
Since its start in August 1997, the TCA Highway Angel program has recognized nearly 1,500 professional drivers who have stepped up during emergencies. Through the support of EpicVue, along with DriverFacts and Northland Insurance, the program continues to honor drivers like Ford and Svec who reflect the best of the trucking community.
For many in the industry, it is stories like this that highlight the real heart of trucking, being the one who pulls over when others do not.
Image Source: TCA, Truckers News
Other Source: Truckers News
