Weavil named Highway Angel

Joseph Weavil, a truck driver for Epes Transport of Greensboro, N.C., is the Truckload Carriers Association’s most recent Highway Angel. Weavil notified authorities and led them to an accident scene that was not visible from the road.

On Dec. 22, Weavil was driving along Interstate 95 in North Carolina when he saw a car hit a guardrail and flip over, disappearing down a steep embankment. Weavil took it upon himself to alert authorities.

The car had fallen into a creek and landed upside down, trapping the father and his children. The embankment was too steep to climb down, but Weavil scoped out a place where authorities could make their way down to the car and waited to direct police to the car.

State police Sgt. Chris Clark used a baton to break open the vehicle’s window to extract the occupants. “There is no doubt in my mind that the father and children would still be there if it hadn’t been for the truck driver witnessing the accident and going the extra effort, staying at the scene and directing emergency personnel,” Clark says.

Weavil is thrilled that he was able to help the family. “I’ve got two kids myself,” he says. “If I don’t help when I know someone’s in trouble, how can I expect anyone else to stop and help if it were my own kids?”

Weavil will receive a Highway Angel lapel pin, certificate and patch for the kindness he showed that day. Epes Transport also will receive a certificate acknowledging that one of its drivers is a Highway Angel.


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