On October 24, 2012, Werner driver Mark Randall and his student driver were driving along Interstate 80/680, headed to deliver a load of tires, when Randall noticed a motorcyclist up ahead who was driving quickly and following a car a little too closely.
Instinct told Randall to back off.
Randall says he watched as the motorcyclists attempted to pass the car. The motorcycle’s front tire hit the back of the car and the motorcyclist crashed to the ground in Randall’s lane.
“I always make a big point of being aware of my surroundings when I’m operating these vehicles,” said Randall, who was recently recognized by his company for a million miles of accident-free driving and also received Werner’s Humanitarian Award for his actions that day. “I pay good attention. In fact, I was just about to make my student aware of the possible hazard ahead when the motorcyclist suddenly accelerated and attempted to pass the car. But he was just too close and hit the rear of that vehicle.”
Randall attempted to get out of the lane but was blocked by traffic, so he continued slowing to a stop.
Miraculously, Randall’s fully-loaded truck came to a stop 10 feet from the fallen cyclist.
A highway patrolman at the scene witnessed how close Randall’s truck came to hitting the cyclist and joked with the cyclist about his luck, telling him to go buy a lottery ticket.
Luck had little to do with it. Randall’s attentiveness to his surroundings and his quick thinking kept the cyclist safe.
“Because THAT truck stopped, and he was lucky to fall in front of ME!” Randall said.
For helping the motorcyclist, Randall was presented with a Highway Angel lapel pin, certificate and patch. Werner Enterprises also received a certificate acknowledging that one of its drivers is a Highway Angel.
The Highway Angel program is sponsored for TCA 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. TCA has received letters and e-mails from people across North America nominating truck drivers for the program.
To learn more about the Highway Angel program or to nominate a driver, please visit http://www.truckload.org/highway-angel.