Bison Transport team drivers Brian McHale of Gatineau, Quebec, and Lee Wood of Kingston, Ontario, have been named Truckload Carriers Association Highway Angels for their help at a fatal accident scene.
On July 18, McHale and Wood were driving on Highway 401 when Wood saw car parts flying up in the air in the express lanes beside them. The driver of a tractor-trailer had plowed into an SUV that was slowed almost to a stop in rush-hour traffic. The team drivers grabbed their reflective vests and first-aid kit and then dodged across four lanes of traffic to reach the accident scene.
McHale went straight to the SUV, which was almost completely crushed and smoldering and soaked in gasoline. He checked the driver’s vital signs, discovering the man was unconscious and had severe injuries. He was able to briefly revive him with CPR, but soon realized the injuries were so bad he would not stay alive long. McHale held the man, calmly reassuring him that his family loved him and that they would be OK. They said a prayer together, and then the man took his last breath in McHale’s arms.
Meanwhile, Wood was helping the man who caused the accident. Wood calmed him down as best he could. At the same time, Wood made sure no one created a spark or flame because gasoline had spilled on the highway. He also kept people from being struck by the rush-hour traffic.