ABF DRIVER RENDERS AID AFTER VAN COLLIDES WITH FRACKING TRAILER

05/15/2020
Alexandria, Virginia

The Truckload Carriers Association has named John DeGood, from Plummerville, Arkansas, a Highway Angel for stopping to help the driver of a passenger van after he collided with a fracking trailer.

It was a little after 2 a.m. on December 3 and John DeGood was traveling east-bound on Hwy 315 near Clayton, Texas when he came upon an accident scene. A van had collided with a dark-colored trailer with fracking equipment on it. DeGood slowly maneuvered around the accident scene a short distance, made a U-turn, and returned in the west-bound lanes. As he was doing so, the driver of the fracking trailer slowed, but did not stop at the scene. A piece of the trailer’s DOT bumper was lying in the road. DeGood says the van had veered off the road and into a stand of trees. He positioned his truck to shine his headlights on the scene and used his four-way flashers as warning signals. He grabbed a flashlight and went to check on the driver of the Ford van, who told him he was having chest pain. Since there was no smoke coming from the vehicle and he couldn’t smell any gas, DeGood told the driver to remain in his vehicle. He then called 911 and reported the accident.

DeGood is a part of the fire department at home. He checked the driver out to make sure he hadn’t sustained any cuts or broken bones. “He told me he’d had open heart surgery a few years ago,” shard DeGood. “He said he had medication with him and asked me to help him find it, but he was so jumbled up in there, I couldn’t find anything. He said he didn’t see the trailer. It must have been coming off of a dark road and pulled onto the highway.” DeGood said emergency vehicles arrived just a few minutes later. He’s hopeful everything turned out okay for that driver.

For his willingness to assist his fellow drivers, TCA has presented DeGood with a certificate, patch, lapel pin, and truck decals. ABF Freight System has also received a certificate acknowledging their driver as a Highway Angel.

Since the program’s inception in August 1997, more than 1,250 drivers have been recognized as Highway Angels for the exemplary kindness, courtesy, and courage they have displayed while on the job. EpicVue sponsors TCA’s Highway Angel program.