Peter Lester, a truck driver for Carroll Fulmer Logistics, has been named a Highway Angel by the Truckload Carriers Association for saving a fellow truckers’ life and helping prevent a fire at a facility.
On Dec. 8, 2018, Lester was making an early-morning delivery at Coca-Cola in Jacksonville, Florida. He arrived early, so he pulled over on a residential street to do some paperwork where two other trucks were parked already.
He noticed something out of place from a truck in front of him and realized it was a flame, and he then saw smoke coming out from under the front wheels of the truck. Lester pulled around and got on the horn to try to alert the other driver.
“I pulled the airhorn to notify anyone in there and the truck in front of him as well,” Lester said. “The flames then all broke out and more smoke came rushing out. I hit the horn again with one hand and called 911 with the other.”
He then pulled his truck up to the Coca-Cola entrance to alert the guard and facility that there was a fire near the premises, which backs up to a wooded area. By that time, the fire department was on their way, and Lester knew they would handle the situation. He later found out both trucks had drivers inside but no one was injured.
“I’ve been driving since 1984 and I’ve never seen anything blow up the way this did so quickly,” Lester said. “It started out looking like headlights, and then mushroomed in to flames. I don’t believe the security guard would have noticed, so I am glad I pulled in when I did.”
For his willingness to help, TCA presented Lester with a certificate, patch, lapel pin and truck decals. Carroll Fulmer Logistics also received a certificate acknowledging their driver as a Highway Angel.