Trucker Named Highway Angel for Helping Trucker Whose Vehicle Was On Fire 

08/03/2022
Alexandria, Virginia

The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) has named truck driver Todd Lee, from Benton, KY, a Highway Angel for notifying a nearby truck that its tires were on fire, stopping, and helping extinguish the fires.  Lee drives for Quality Carriers in Tampa, FL. 

It’s an incredible story: On June 10, 2022, around 10 a.m., Lee was driving on I-64 in Illinois when a truck passed him in the left lane. He noticed the tire was smoking, so he attempted to let the driver of the truck know about the potential fire. 

“I kept blowing my horn for a minute, and I guess it finally got his attention to turn on his CB (radio),” Lee said. “I was on my CB hollering at him and got his attention.” 

The smoking truck pulled over on the side of I-64. Lee followed. 

“The smoke was getting worse, so I pulled over with him,” Lee said. “Sure enough, the tire was on fire and we had to use two fire extinguishers and half a case of water to put it out.” 

A volunteer firefighter who has been driving a truck for seven years, Lee said he made sure the fire was completely out. 

“He had a whole load of lumber,” Lee said. “It would have gone up (in flames) pretty quick if he wouldn’t have noticed (the fire).” 

Stopping to help the trucker seemed like the right thing to do, Lee said. “It’s just helping out a fellow driver,” he said. “I didn’t think nothing of it.” 

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 Mr. Lee.