For the second time, Jon “AZ” Atzenhofer, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, has earned a Highway Angel award fro the Truckload Carriers Association.
On June 4, 2013, Atzenhofer was driving west on I-40, 10 miles west of Santa Rosa, New Mexico, when he saw a small car that was heading east flip 2 to 3 times. The car came to a stop on the median.
All the vehicles that were in the area at the time kept going, but Atzenhofer stopped to help.
Atzenhofer, who has been driving since 1988, has helped several motorists throughout his driving career. When asked about this incident, he said, “You just can’t bypass things like that, or at least I don’t!”
He called 911, put on some gloves and ran to the car.
When he got to the car, Atzenhofer noticed all car’s windows but the drivers window had been shattered. Atzenhofer tried and failed to open the door, so he pulled out the window. He check to see if the unconscious driver was breathing.
To minimize injury, Atzenhofer left the driver in the car and stayed with her until help could arrive, though he did cut the driver’s seatbelt, just in case the driver quit breathing and he needed to perform CPR.
Last year, Atzenhofer was awarded a Highway Angel award after he performed CPR on a man who had a heart attack at a truck stop.
For his willingness to stop and help, Atzenhofer has received a Highway Angel lapel pin, certificate, and patch. FTC Transportation also received a certificate acknowledging that one of its drivers is a Highway Angel.
TCA’s Highway Angel program is sponsored by Internet Truckstop. Since the program’s inception in August 1997, hundreds of drivers have been recognized as Highway Angels for the unusual kindness, courtesy, and courage they have shown others while on the job.