On October 6, 2012, Thunder LLC owner operator Pavel Kolacek was driving along Interstate 270 on the Illinois side of St. Louis when he observed a car exit onto the highway.
Kolacek watched the car swerve left and then back into traffic. Kolacek quickly changed lanes to allow the car into his lane.
The car then struck Kolacek’s tandems, spun around and landed in the ditch on the other side of the highway.
Kolacek stopped his truck and called 911. Kolacek stayed with the driver until help arrived.
According to the man, he recently had surgery and had not been told he was restricted from driving.
“From the time I got that cold sweat and knew I was going to pass out, all I wanted to do was pull over,” the man wrote. “I don’t remember anything until I came to in the trees/brush. … I didn’t know I hit anyone, and I wasn’t even sure where I was. Then I heard you coming [toward me]. … It was a really bad situation that could have been a lot worse. … I’ve got a whole new respect for truck drivers.”
For his efforts, Kolacek was awarded the Truckload Carrier’s Association’s Highway Angel Award.