The Truckload Carriers Association recently named truck driver Roy Chandler from Rockport, Texas, a TCA Highway Angel for stopping to help a woman who crashed into a semi truck on a rainy highway in northeast Texas. Chandler works for Diamond Transportation System, Inc out of Racine, Wisconsin.
TCA explains:
Around 2:30 p.m. on April 20 in Morris County, Texas, Chandler was traveling on Interstate 30 in heavy rain. He witnessed a young woman pass on the left; visibility was extremely low. She sped past him, then he saw her attempt to merge back into the right lane. Unfortunately, with the rain and spray on the highway, she could not or did not see another tractor-trailer in the lane she was merging into. She hit the back end of the trailer and flipped multiple times into the median.
“She hit the back tire and the momentum of her tire going forward and his tire just launched her into midair,” Chandler said. “She went up about 20 feet into midair.”
Chandler immediately pulled to the side and ran to help the woman. She was responsive, with only minor injuries, but trapped in the car. He called 911 and stayed with the young woman and consoled the driver of the truck she hit — he was visibly shaken and complained of dizziness. Chandler also helped to clear the road, stayed on the scene until a state trooper arrived and provided his dashcam footage to law enforcement.
A second generation truck driver who has been driving for 37 years, he has helped at his fair share of wrecks.
“It’s always what we’re supposed to do. As a Christian and as a truck driver I’m supposed to help wherever I can,” Chandler said. “To me it was just another day at work.”
Since the TCA Highway Angel program’s inception in August 1997, nearly 1,400 professional truck drivers have been recognized as TCA 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 is able to showcase outstanding drivers like Chandler.
