Werner driver uses CPR to save girl’s life

Dave Nelson (left) receives award from Chris Polenz, head of human resources at Werner.Dave Nelson (left) receives award from Chris Polenz, head of human resources at Werner.

When Werner Enterprises truck driver Dave Nelson decided to help a stranded motorist on Feb. 10, he saved the life of a 7-year-old girl.
 
Vicki Carter and her mother, Pam, were traveling on I-20 near Birmingham, Ala., when their car ran off the road and hit a sign. Pam jumped out of the car and tried to flag down help for her daughter, but only Nelson stopped.
 
“She was literally out in the road,” Nelson recalled. He moved the woman to safety as she explained her daughter was still in the car and needed help.
 
Vicki was not breathing and had no pulse. Nelson pulled the girl from the car and began CPR. He learned Vicki had a heart murmur, just like his own daughter. He performed CPR until paramedics arrived.
 
“It was so amazing to see this big trucker hold my little girl and do CPR.  He kept me calm the whole time and the kindness he showed me really kept me together,” Pam said.
 
That the truck driver intervened when others refused and saved the life of a child “was unreal,” a member of the rescue squad later told the girl’s father.
 
“Werner Enterprises is proud of Dave Nelson’s willingness to help others,” said Greg Werner, Werner Enterprises’ president and CEO. “His quick action and determination are very admirable and we couldn’t be more proud to have him on our team.” 
 
Vicki regularly texts the man she calls “Trucker Dave” and sends him pictures. Nelson has invited the Carter family to his home in Orlando to meet his family and go to Disney World together.