Woman trucker helps couple, named Highway Angel

A driver for a Canadian carrier was recently honored for her efforts to assist an elderly couple who had been involved in an accident.

Christina Powell, who drives for Challenger Motor Freight, Inc., of Cambridge, Ontario, has been named a Highway Angel by the Truckload Carriers Association.

The TCA explains why Powell was recognized:

Christina Powell

On Jan. 5, Powell was cleaning out her truck to move to a new one, per the request of her dispatcher. She moved all her gear and blankets to the back of her personal vehicle and headed home after a shift that had started at 4 a.m. As she drove down Highway 7/8, she noticed several cars off to the side of the road and some commotion. Just then, one passing car hit the side-wall and a huge puff of snow blasted into the air. Powell pulled over and quickly ran to the scene to make sure everyone was OK.

People in the first few cars seemed fine, and then she came upon the car with the most damage. The couple was visibly shaken, and as they were older, and she felt the need to tend to them, ensuring they stayed calm. It was a frigid minus-26-degree evening, so Powell went to her truck and grabbed blankets to help keep them warm. She then began to direct traffic to prevent further wrecks. Powell went back and forth between the immobile car and the road, checking on the couple while diverting vehicles until the police arrived.

When the first officer arrived on the scene, he brought the couple over to Powell’s vehicle so they could stay warm. Powell was nervous to personally move them until a first responder assessed the situation. “I don’t do anything at a scene like this unless I’m told by the police or paramedics,” she said. Shortly thereafter, paramedics arrived and decided the couple needed to be taken to the hospital. Abdul, the husband who Powell tended to, wanted to obtain her name and number, as well as her company so he could properly thank her.

“I didn’t give them my name. I wasn’t looking for accolades,” said Powell. “Just happened to be in the right place at the right time to help them out. I’m so glad they’re OK!”