Trucker Named Highway Angel for Coming to Aid of
Injured Crash Victim

4/07/2023
Alexandria, Virginia

ALEXANDRIA, VA—The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) has named Chicory Calhoun, from York, PA, a Highway Angel for stopping to help a trapped, crash victim whose car rolled into a ditch. Calhoun works for ABF Freight out of Fort Smith, Arkansas.

It’s an incredible story: On January 31, 2023, in Carlisle, PA, Calhoun was on his way into work around 11 a.m. on I-81 south. As he was driving in his personal vehicle, he saw debris fly up in front of him.

“I see debris—car parts flying in the left lane, the fast lane,” Calhoun said. As he slowed down, he saw a white car cross over several lanes and crash into a ditch on the side of the road, rolling over twice. Calhoun immediately pulled over and called 911.

 “I grabbed my (safety) vest,” he said, as he ran to the crashed vehicle to check on the victim. Other motorists who stopped wanted to pull the female occupant out of the crashed car, but Calhoun noted the car was on a precarious edge and any slight movement of the vehicle could tip it over more and cause injury.

“It looked like it was gonna tilt back the other way,” he said. “I said let’s not try to take her out— her weight might tilt it over.”

Calhoun, along with other motorists, stayed there and held the car in position until firefighters arrived to secure the vehicle in place and EMTs could tend to the crash victim.

“She had a bruise around her neck, I’m assuming from the seat belt,” he said. “I was talking to her; she was saying she had just gotten blood work drawn and she blacked out.”

Since the program’s inception in August 1997, nearly 1,300 professional truck drivers have been recognized as Highway Angels for exemplary kindness, courtesy, and courage displayed while on the job. Thanks to the program’s presenting sponsor, EpicVue, and supporting sponsor, DriverFacts, TCA is able to showcase outstanding drivers like Ms. Crager.