Terry WhittingtonArkansas-based truck driver Terry Whittington has been named a Highway Angel by the Truckload Carriers Association for helping a fellow trucker that was struck by a passing vehicle while inspecting his truck.
Whittington, a driver for ABF Freight, was leaving Fontana, California, on I-10 heading back to Phoenix when he saw an accident up ahead. Another tractor-trailer was parked on the right shoulder, and Whittington noticed something lying on the ground.
As he approached, he could see it was a man lying in the road. Whittington pulled over and ran over to the man, calling 911 as he approached. The driver was conscious and crying out for help.
Whittington learned the man was a driver for Roehl Transport who had pulled over to check his equipment when he was struck by a U-Haul vehicle pulling a car. The U-Haul had drifted toward the right shoulder when it struck the driver. The man’s legs were badly crushed and was in shock and losing a lot of blood.
Whittington stayed with the driver to comfort him until first responders arrived, but he later learned the driver passed away in the ambulance on the way to the hospital.
“It was horrible,” Whittington said. “I just wanted to sit there and cry. I kept envisioning that poor man and how he was asking me to help him get up. All he did was pull over to check his equipment and now he’s dead. People need to pay more attention when they’re out there on the road.”
For his willingness to stop and help, TCA presented Whittington with a certificate, patch, lapel pin and truck decals. ABF Freight also received a certificate acknowledging their driver as a Highway Angel. EpicVue sponsors the TCA Highway Angel program.
