John Boyd, a driver for ABF Freight System Inc., of Fort Smith, Ark., was named a Truckload Carriers Association Highway Angel for helping a man injured in an accident. Less than a year ago, Boyd was recognized for assisting in another accident.
On March 3 Boyd was traveling on I-40 near Jackson, Tenn., when a car he had passed went out of control, flipped over several times and landed upside down in a ditch.
After calling 911, Boyd approached the vehicle, which was smoking and steaming. Boyd waited with the injured driver, encouraging him to stay away from the smoking vehicle. A Tennessee State Patrolman later called Boyd, thanking him for being the only motorist to stop and help. He said it was good Boyd had led the driver away from the wreck and into a safe sitting position to avoid injuring himself further.
Last year, Boyd was honored as a Highway Angel for coming to the aid of a soldier who was home on leave from Iraq. The soldier’s car had flipped over, ejecting the injured driver onto the pavement. Boyd used his trailers to block traffic, possibly preventing vehicles from hitting the man. The man survived, and ABF honored Boyd with its Medal of Excellence.