A Virginia trucker came to the aid of a fellow professional driver who crashed on Interstate 40 and has been honored for his efforts.
The Truckload Carriers Association recently named truck driver Timothy Olden, from North Chesterfield, Virginia, a TCA Highway Angel for stopping to help a trucker who fell asleep at the wheel and crashed his vehicle. Olden drives for Decker Truck Line, out of Fort Dodge, Iowa.
TCA explains:
Timothy OldenOn Dec. 22, around 2:30 a.m., Olden was driving on I-40 near mile marker 319 through Crossville, Tennessee. He saw a flatbed driver veer off the offramp, crash, and the trailer ended up lying on the driver’s side.
“He rolled his truck,” Olden said. “He admitted to me and to the cops that he fell asleep.”
After witnessing the crash, Olden immediately pulled over, called 911 and helped the driver get out safely. The driver appeared to only have minor injuries like cuts and bruises. Olden remained with the driver in the crash until law enforcement arrived. He also told the driver the “Three Yawn Rule.”
“If you yawn three times in a row, get to a truck stop and rest,” he said. “Go stretch out in the back of the truck.”
Since the TCA Highway Angels program’s inception in August 1997, nearly 1,400 professional truck drivers have been recognized as Highway Angels for exemplary kindness, courtesy, and courage displayed while on the job. Thanks to the program’s presenting sponsor, EpicVue, and supporting sponsors, DriverFacts and Northland Insurance, TCA said it can showcase outstanding drivers like Olden.
Timothy Olden
