Independent owner-operator Jorge Orozco-Sanchez, Goodyear Highway Hero for his heroic rescue of children from an on-road fire that also took his truck, is now back on the road with the help of industry organizations.

Carnegie honoree

Highway hero reaps rewards of heroic rescue

By Deirdra Drinkard

Though the accident happened more than a year ago, independent driver Jorge Orozco-Sanchez well remembers the collision, the flames, the screams and the lives taken that day. On Oct. 28, 2008, an SUV heading east on U.S. Highway 392 suddenly crossed the center line and struck his rig head on. He remembers seeing the flames that broke out under the SUV and hearing two young children trapped in carseats screaming from within.

Orozco-Sanchez called 911, then reacted as he says any father of two would.

“I wasn’t scared for myself when I found out about the kids,” he says. “They are the future, and I just thought of my own kids.”

Orozco-Sanchez rushed to the burning SUV and began to unfasten 4-year-old Peyton Nicklas from her carseat. After getting her out of harm’s way, Orozco-Sanchez returned to the burning vehicle to get the second child.