On November 25, 2012, G&P Trucking Company, Inc., driver Calvin White was traveling north on Interstate 95 in Halifax, North Carolina when he witnessed a pickup truck that was traveling south run off the road and roll.
Luggage and other items flew from the pickup.
White stopped his truck on the side of the road and ran over to the wreckage. White noticed a shovel lying on the ground by the pickup. He used it to pry open the vehicle’s passenger door.
A young boy was buckled into the passenger seat. White freed him from the vehicle and handed the child off to another passerby who had stopped to offer assistance. The boy had sustained head trauma and was in shock.
White then went to the driver’s side. While he was working to free the elderly driver, who was likely the boy’s grandfather, he noticed that the man was dead.
“I’m not a hero. I just did what you have to do in life,” said White. “This is my 44th year of truck driving. I’ve seen a lot of accidents in my time. If I can assist, I will.”
For helping the accident victims, White was presented with a Highway Angel lapel pin, certificate, and patch. G&P Trucking 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. 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 visithttp://www.truckload.org/highway-angel.