TCA SALUTES HIGHWAY ANGEL BARRY BYRAM, OF JONESBORO, ARKANSAS

09/12/2006
Alexandria, Virginia

The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) recently recognized Barry Byram, of Jonesboro, Arkansas, as a Highway Angel for his selfless actions, which saved the life of a driver.

Byram, a driver for American Central Transport, was driving westbound on I-40 near Brownsville, Tennessee, when he saw a Volkswagen beetle in the eastbound lane drive towards the median and flip over onto it’s roof. He carefully parked his truck on the median, took the ice out of his truck, and ran towards the car.

“When I arrived at the car, the driver was still buckled into her seat and the back wind- shield was broken out. I crawled through the windshield to check her pulse, which was quite weak,” Byram said. After checking her pulse, he used his shirt as tourniquet to stop her bleeding, which also aided him in keeping her conscious. Fortunately, for the driver, Byram had 15 years of medical training, as a member of the U.S. Special Forces and a helicopter attack unit.

As Byram was talking to the driver, police and other emergency personnel arrived on the scene. An officer told him a helicopter was on stand-by and he told the officer “that she needed to be transported by helicopter to the nearest hospital”, so the officer quickly called for the helicopter. Byram reported her condition to the officers, who quickly responded by ordering a helicopter to take her to the nearest hospital. He gave them her identification information and medications, which he had found in the car. She was then transported to the helicopter and sent to a hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.

The driver “had fallen asleep behind the wheel of car, which caused her to cross the median,” Byram said. As one of the first persons on the scene of the car crash, he provided medical treatment to the driver and saved her life. His quick thinking and actions kept the situation under control and ensured that the driver would be able to get to the hospital.

“I was always raised to respect people and help them out. I’ve told my children that they should strive to do something for someone everyday, even if it is just opening a door,” said Byram.

Byram received a Highway Angel lapel pin, certificate, and patch for his efforts, and his employer, American Central Transport, also received a certificate for acknowledging a Highway Angel in their midst. Byram has been driving for American Central Transport for one month.

Since the program’s inception in August 1997, hundreds of drivers have been recognized as Highway Angels for the exemplary kindness, courtesy, and courage they have displayed while on the job.