DRIVER’S QUICK WITS HELPED SAVE A MAN FROM DROWNING IN FRIGID WATER

01/27/2011
Alexandria, Virginia

The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) has named Gerald Henry, a professional truck driver for PGT Trucking, Inc., of Monaca, Pennsylvania, as its latest Highway Angel.

On December 22, 2010, Henry was in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, making a delivery at a customer’s warehouse. While waiting to unload with his trainee, Henry saw a worker named Tim slip and fall off the gunnel of a barge into the Ohio River. The river temperature was only 33 degrees.

When he saw this happen, he honked his truck’s horn to get someone’s attention, but no one was nearby. Henry sent the trainee to get help; meanwhile, he went to the river’s edge. Tim was close by and Henry got him out. Tim was in shock. Henry got him to strip off his clothes, but suddenly he fell back into the river. Help finally arrived and Tim was taken inside, where he survived without further complication.

The grateful owner of the company that employs Tim later called PGT Trucking and said, “If it was not for Jerry’s quick action, Tim would not have survived. Jerry saved Tim’s life!”

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.