TCA Salutes
Highway Angel Jeremy Frank, of Zanesville, Ohio
Alexandria, VA, May 18, 2004 – The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA)
recently recognized Jeremy Frank, of Zanesville, Ohio, as a Highway Angel for
being the sole person to stop to assist a woman involved in a serious accident
on a busy interstate.
Frank was driving on Interstate 77 in Akron, Ohio,
making a delivery along his usual run to New York,
when he came across an accident that had just happened.
A vehicle was pinned between a concrete barrier and another car that had
skidded
across the highway. Frank was surprised that no one was on the scene to help,
but without hesitation, he pulled his rig over to the side of the road. The
female
driver of the pinned vehicle was just stepping out of her car when he arrived
on the scene.
"She complained of neck pain – luckily she had been wearing her seat
belt – but she seemed OK otherwise," Frank said of the middle-aged
woman who was alone in the vehicle. "She was very upset; she grabbed hold
of my hand and hugged me and asked me to pray with her."
Frank tried to calm the woman and called her husband
to let him know of the situation. He then checked on
the condition of the male driver of the other vehicle,
but
the man was badly hurt and unable to move. Not wanting to move the injured
man, Frank waited for paramedics to tend to the man.
Although he has been driving for only about four
years, Frank said he has stopped to assist people involved
in accidents before but this is the first time he's
run into such a serious accident where no one else stopped to help.
"That's what puzzled us because it's a busy highway," explained
Frank. "It was right around Christmas time, too, and no one else stopped.
I felt I had to."
The woman was so appreciative of Frank's efforts, she later called the
local newspaper and sent him a letter and gift certificate.
Frank also received a Highway Angel lapel pin, certificate,
and patch from TCA for his efforts, and his employer,
U.S. Xpress Enterprises, Inc., received a
certificate for acknowledging a Highway Angel in their midst.
Since its inception in August 1997, the Highway Angel
program has recognized hundreds of drivers for the
unusual kindness, courtesy, and courage they have
shown others while on the job. TCA has received letters and emails from people
across the country nominating truck drivers for the program.
"
We continue to be amazed by the number of professional truckers who go out of
their way to help a stranger and many times put their lives at risk as well," said
Nancy O'Liddy, director of public affairs and marketing for TCA. "TCA
is proud and delighted to offer the kind of program that gives these drivers
the recognition and support they deserve while at the same time creates a greater
public awareness and appreciation for the many outstanding drivers in this industry."
To view archival copies of past Highway Angel press
releases, visit our website address at www.truckload.org/pressroom/index.shtml#angelnews.
To nominate a driver
online, go to www.truckload.org/highwayangels/nominate.asp. For more information
on the program, contact TCA at 703/838-1950 or via email at Angel@truckload.org.
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