His fast actions at the scene of a car fire have earned a trucker recognition by a major industry organization.
The Truckload Carriers Association recently named Binyam Tadele, from Baltimore, Maryland, a Highway Angel for spotting a fire under a car, extinguishing it, and getting the driver out of the vehicle safely.
TCAS explains:
Tadele has been driving a truck for Schofield, an independent affiliate of Quality Carriers, for over four years. He was recently driving from Baltimore to Shippensburg on Interstate 70. It was a weekday, between 7:a.m.and 8 a.m., and he was moving slowly through fog when he noticed a car that appeared to have flames coming from underneath it.
“As I’m passing, the flame started getting bigger,” Tadele said. He continued to watch the car, which was pulled over, in his mirror. “The flame got worse, and the people were not coming out.”
Without a moment to spare, Tadele safely pulled over, grabbed a fire extinguisher and ran back to the smoldering car. A woman, wearing hospital scrubs, was alone in the car. He yelled at her, “Hey! Your car’s on fire! You gotta get out!”
The woman, unaware of the fire, exited the vehicle, called 911, and Tadele proceeded to extinguish the fire. He said he is glad he saw the fire when it was “still small – it could have been worse for her.”
Tadele stayed with the woman until emergency crews arrived to assist.
TCA presented him with a certificate, patches, lapel pin, and truck decals. The company has also received a letter acknowledging him as a Highway Angel.
