A Jacksonville, Illinois, trucker earned the Goodyear Highway Hero Award for saving the lives of motorists trapped in a burning vehicle. Gerald “Andy” Wright recently became the 37th recipient of the heroism award since 1983.
“From the moment I saw the flames, all I could think about was what I could do to help those inside the car get to safety,” Wright reportedly said. “I’m honored to be given this award from Goodyear, and at the end of the day I feel very fortunate to have been in the right place at the right time to help those in need.”
Goodyear commissioned a call for submissions in October, 2021. Members of the trucking community were tasked with nominating a driver they believed demonstrated an extraordinary act of courage on the road. Goodyear officials reportedly received dozens of deserving submissions and then narrowed the field to three incredible finalists. The following summarizes their acts of heroism in the face of danger.
Gerald “Andy” Wright: While driving on Illinois Route 3, Wright encountered a vehicle that was on fire following an accident. Equipped with nothing more than a fire extinguisher and load bar, Wright sprung to action and quickly suppressed the fire as best he could until the extinguisher ran out. Wright then proceeded to break the vehicle’s sunroof and helped pull the trapped occupants out of the vehicle to safety. By the time all riders had been removed, the car was fully engulfed in fire.
Jami Meyers (finalist): Meyers was driving on an interstate when she noticed a car in front of her swerved lanes and hit a barrier. Meyers quickly exited her truck to investigate when she noticed the vehicle was slowly moving, and the car’s driver was on the ground in front of the car. Meyers immediately entered the vehicle and put the car in reverse to ensure the man could be safely removed from the car’s path. Meyers then placed a coat on the man to keep him warm and stayed with him until emergency personnel arrived.
Phillip Hurte (finalist): Hurte was driving through Lubbock, Texas, when he witnessed an SUV roll over. Acting quickly, Hurte immediately pressed on his brakes and pulled over to see if he could help the situation. When Hurte approached the damaged vehicle, he noticed two adults and a young child inside. Hurte proceeded to help each family member exit safely and waited with them as first responders rushed to the scene.
“There is no question that Andy’s actions directly saved the lives of those who were in severe danger,” Goodyear official Gary Schroeder reportedly said. “Andy fully embodies what it means to be a hero, and today we are proud to add him to our list of courageous Goodyear Highway Hero Award winners.”
All three heroic truckers received monetary rewards, with Wright earning other custom prizes from Goodyear.
Sources: prnewswire.com, ttnews.com
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