Mike Callahan and Ty Hinton, both truckers for the Tulsa-based Melton Truck Line, have been recognized for their selfless acts in 2023. The Truckload Carriers Association designated both men Highway Angels for their alert reactions and aid to people in need.
Callahan was reportedly at a Pilot truck stop in Bowman, S.C., on April 19 when a passenger vehicle crashed.
“I stopped what I was doing. I knew something bad had happened. A small car with two passengers in it had gone off the road and over a 25-foot bank, landing in a ditch between the highway and the truck stop,” Callahan reportedly said. “It was a truck stop full of trucks, and it surprised me that nobody else heard it or saw it. I was the only one there.”
The Melton truck driver rushed to the aid of a woman and several young passengers, getting everyone out of the totaled vehicle. He called 911 and got a blanket to keep the woman comfortable until first responders arrived.
Hinton, a Melton driver hailing from Georgetown, Louisiana, was at a Flying J truck stop in February when he saw a man collapse. Having knowledge of strokers, he quickly determined this could be a life-threatening incident.
“I heard something hit the side of my truck, and I saw the guy stumbling by the side of the trailer kinda hanging on to it — it was pretty obvious right away. Just looking at the guy – slurring his speech, the left side of his face was not working. I called the EMT and got them to come to the truck stop,” Hinton reportedly said.
Hinton went to the man’s aid in an effort to keep him steady until EMTs arrived. The trucker went as far as to use the ailing man’s cell phone to contact his wife.
“I just wanted to make sure he was as comfortable as possible. I know strokes can be bad enough to be fatal and I wanted to give him the opportunity to hear his wife’s voice. If I was going through that, I know that is the one person I would want to hear — my wife,” he reportedly said.
Since the Highway Angel program was established in 1997, nearly 1,300 professional truck drivers have been recognized for exemplary kindness, courtesy, and courage displayed while on the job.
Sources:
https://www.highwayangel.org/highway-angel-recipient-mike-callahan-2/
https://www.highwayangel.org/highway-angel-recipient-ty-hinton2-2/
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