Sharp eyes and quick thinking helped one driver spot and help rescue a fellow trucker who had suffered from a stroke and gone without being noticed for hours.
Mattie Efferson, a Missouri driver with CFI, was stopped for dinner at the Derby City South Truck Plaza in Mt. Vernon, Kentucky. After dinner as Efferson and her finisher were walking back to the truck, she saw a man underneath his truck. Efferson called out to the man, and when he didn’t respond, she ran over to see if he was alright.
The driver was conscious when she reached him, but he desperately needed medical attention. According to the Truckload Carriers Association, the man had suffered from a stroke and fallen out of his truck. When he fell, he sustained a neck injury and had been unable to move from where he fell for the past five or six hours.
Efferson stayed with the man until emergency services arrived, keeping him safe and keeping him calm.
For her help, the TCA named Efferson a Highway Angel. Way to go, driver!
Source: gobytrucknews, overdrive, TCA
Chatterbox says
Thank God she didn’t ignore something when she saw the body not knowing whether it was alive or dead she went over to investigate I believe that God puts you in a situation for a reason, God knowing that the man needed help he bought the angel that way
Stephen says
Absolutely
Andrew H says
How does someone go unnoticed for more than 6 hours straight?
Just goes to show how selfish this industry has become. Its sad. As a fairly new trucker, going on 7 years now, I love talking to the veteran truckers who have been doing it for decades, and hear the stories they have to tell in the ‘good ol days’ where everyone practically knew everyone.
Sad those days are gone.
Doc says
Always talk to us we can help a lot.. and I remember those days as they were yesterday. I miss the Brotherhood we had a very strong one nobody could break that Brotherhood up. It took the government and big corporations many years to break us up. We didn’t have road service back in the day hour road service was our fellow driver if one broke down 4 would pull over to help. And Greyhound would save our asses by bringing us our parts if we broke down. The problem out here is drivers just don’t care they only worry about themselves. There is no respect for the drivers anymore and there is way too many foreigners.
DEEZ NUTZ says
Don’t kid yourself stories are stories. Time makes memories false. Look at old pics of truckstops people parked where ever even in the 50’s and such. Also they drove way smaller trucks and you can see damage all over where they were still hitting stuff. Dudes were stupid on the CB also.
Terrie walker says
I remember the days in 1992 when I started trucking and we still help each other. I noticed alot of changes for the worse. It’s sad to see new breed drivers out here.
Kevin X says
Mid 90s I started one thing those flip flaps. Not even proper footwear
Ed Martin says
This is an older, smaller truck stop and not well lit.
Elizabeth says
Yes it is sad. I have been out here for 17 years and am astounded by the way times have changed. That poor man would not have suffered that long. I pray for him and for human kind.
Red says
Most people nowadays “think” they’re so important or just “too busy” that they would rather pretend to not see someone laying on the ground in obvious need of help and just go on with their day rather than to get involved. Then everyone wants to ask what’s wrong with this world. The world ended when time and money trumped human life, unfortunately it’s just a matter of time now. Most people think a nuclear bomb is the scariest thing on Earth but it’s not…the human race is
Russ Lea says
The porters should be conducting a security check each hour that they do their rounds around the grounds.
David says
Andrew H hit the Nail on the head…I’ve been saying that for years…I’m retired now and how I miss those days when every Driver looked out for each other when it was just the natural thing to do…
Good on you Lady, I bet you went off a happier Person knowing you saved a colleagues Life…
MrNA says
God Bless you Mattie. You ARE an Angel. Prayers for the fallen Driver.
Iriemonarch says
My heart goes out to that driver and a big Thank you for those who helped him.
Kevin says
Great Job for saving the guy! I’m sure he’s eternally grateful!!! 🙂 I know I would be!! Take care and be safe my friends! 🙂
craw says
Just another BRIGHT EXAMPLE for WHY ALL Drivers must take personal responsibility for their own health.
The Trucking Industry would not need ‘Highway Angels’ like Mattie if Drivers would make some effort to GET and STAY in healthy condition.
Greasy Burgers & French Fries, Chicken Fried Steak, Mashed Potatoes, Tornado’s, Soft Drinks, FRIED * FRIED * FRIED Everything.
* Drive * Sleep * Eat * ever single day with no exercise. THAT’S the PROBLEM.
Good Diet and Regular Exercise. THAT’S the SOLUTION.
‘Longing for the old days’, ‘porters doing security checks’, or saying ‘my heart goes out to that driver’ does absolutely NOTHING.
Look around any truck stop. If you are honest, every one of you knows this to be true.
J Singh Hundal says
She had not done any great job, its happened due to the man was underneath of her truck. She saw some one laying under her truck. That’s why she helped him. No body can ignore in that situation. If that truck was not belonged to her & she helped that man then you can say these things in your comments. Yes we can thanks her for her help. But can’t blame to anyone who not helped him. Because he was not laying on the road or in the parking openly. God knows that the man need help so he sent someone that way to help him.
Super trucker says
It’s a tiny little truck stop off the beaten path not a lot of people stop there. Just remember that if your a driver be careful where you park nobody is going to come to your rescue if you park in the middle of nowhere
Charles says
Maybe since he was under the truck most people just passed on by thinking he was fixing something or doing a pretrip.
James Tomblin says
My first job in the trucking industry began on June 17, 1967. I started as a lumper (dock worker) for Overnite in Atlanta. I supervised a log dept and worked in a billing dept and drove 2.7 million miles in my driving career of 26 years. I know a thing or two as a result but even today i still learn…learn humility as it leads to piece of mind. “Double DIamond “.