TCA Salutes Highway Angel Edison Yeager of Burnside, Pennsylvania
Alexandria, VA, October 3, 2006 – The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) recently recognized Edison Yeager of Burnside, Pennsylvania, as a Highway Angel for his selfless actions, which saved the life of an elderly passenger in a car.
Yeager, a driver for Kephart Trucking, was driving eastbound on I-80 to pick up a load in New Jersey, when he saw a car ahead of him parked on the shoulder of the road. An elderly woman got out of the car and began waving for help. He carefully parked his truck on the shoulder and ran towards her car.
"She told me to please hurry because her husband was choking. When I arrived at the car, he was still in his seat, so I got him out of his seat and performed the Heimlich Maneuver on him, which dislodge the food from his throat," Yeager said. Fortunately, for the elderly couple, Yeager had received medical training while working as an EMS and the U.S. Army.
He told her that they should drive to the nearest hospital to make sure that her husband was all right. They thanked him for helping them, asked for his contact information and went back on the highway. The husband "had been eating a sandwich which caused him to choke," Yeager said. As the only person who stopped to help them he provided emergency medical care to the husband and saved his life.
"The right thing to do is to help people on the road. You never know who it might be," said Yeager.
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.
"The kindness and generosity of these professional truck drivers, who risk everything to save the life of a driver or passenger on our roads, continues to amaze us", said Nancy O'Liddy, director of public relations and marketing for TCA. "TCA is proud and delighted to provide this program, to highlight the positive impact these drivers have on our roads."
Yeager received a Highway Angel lapel pin, certificate, and patch for his efforts, and his employer, Kephart Trucking, also received a certificate for acknowledging a Highway Angel in their midst. Yeager has been driving for Kephart Trucking for one year and developed a passion for driving trucks while in the U.S. Army.
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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