On July 8, 2013, Barnhart Transportation driver Tracy Fischer was driving along westbound on Interstate 70 in Brookville, Ohio. He slowed as he reached a construction zone and eventually came to a stop. Two women in a Jeep who were driving behind Fischer also came to a stop.
Unfortunately, a truck that was driving behind the Jeep was going too fast and failed to stop. The truck slammed into the back of the Jeep and pushed it under Fischer’s truck.
Fischer’s truck shuddered with the impact.
As soon as he realized what had just happened, he jumped from his truck and ran to the back of his trailer. He found the Jeep smashed under his trailer. One woman was unconscious and the other was crying.
“The scene was chaotic, with steam and smoke everywhere, the severely crashed car, and the strong odor of gasoline,” the TCA reported.
Fischer ran back to his truck, put on gloves, grabbed a fire extinguisher and winch bar and ran back to the Jeep. Fischer began working to pry the women from the wreckage, but they were trapped in the twisted metal.
Knowing there was nothing else he could do to free the women, he worked to comfort them. He used paper towels to dry the woman’s tears from her eyes.
Emergency officials soon arrived and took over.
“I’m just a normal person, following in my Daddy’s footsteps as a trucker,” said Fischer when asked about the incident. “I would help anyone if they needed it, no matter what, when, or where.”
For his efforts, Fischer has been awarded the Truckload Carriers Association Highway Angel award.