Two professional drivers who died while assisting at an accident scene have been honored postumously.
The Truckload Carriers Association has recognized Adam “Troy” Miller, 53, of Hagerstown, Maryland, and Ashish Patel, 46, of Ontario, Canada as Highway Angels for stopping to help at the scene of a serious accident.
The TCA said explains:
The fatal incident began around 7:20 a.m. on Thursday, July 1, on Interstate 81 in West Virginia. A police report said there were two crashes near the entrance ramp to I-81. There had been heavy rain earlier that morning.
The first crash occurred when two passenger cars lost control, hydroplaned, and drove through the grassy median, striking a parked tractor-trailer and getting wedged underneath the trailer. Several motorists, including Patel and Miller, stopped to help. As they did so, a third vehicle, an SUV, also lost control in the same area, struck the rear of the parked tractor-trailer, and then hit Patel and Miller. Both men died at the scene.
Miller was a professional truck driver with Portner Trucking based in Thurmont, Maryland, and Patel drove for Bison Transport based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Miller’s widow, Julie, shared with TCA that her husband had a 28-year career as a professional truck driver and was on his way to work that morning. She wasn’t surprised that he had stopped to help. “He was an excellent driver,” she said. “He could put a big rig in the smallest space I’ve ever seen in my life. He took his job very seriously. And he always pulled over to help someone.”
Patel’s widow, Shilpa, shared that her husband enjoyed being a professional truck driver and always accepted challenges that came his way. He didn’t speak English when he moved to Canada from India in 2010. He drove for Bison Transport for four years. In 2019, he received a Safe Driver Award for 250,000 miles of safe driving. “He helped others get their licenses and learn about the job,” she said. “He always encouraged people. He always shared the good points about the driving life.” “If someone was looking for a job, they would ask Ashish. He said if you are young, drive a truck, it will help you have a long road for your life.”
TCA has presented both families a certificate, patch, lapel pin, and truck decals. Both employers have also received a letter acknowledging Miller and Patel as Highway Angels.
Since the program’s inception in August 1997, nearly 1,300 professional truck drivers have been recognized as Highway Angels for the exemplary kindness, courtesy, and courage they have displayed while on the job.
The program’s presenting sponsor is EpicVue, and the supporting sponsor is DriverFacts.
