Trucker was awarded with «Highway Angel» title for heroism at truck stop

The former US Navy soldier was honored by the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) for his brave feat in a dangerous situation.

On June 30, trucker Paul Annen and a student-driver stopped at Love’s Travel Stop, situated at the I-40 route near Palestine, Arkansas. Suddenly they saw a burning truck and rushed to help.

“I drove closer and stopped at a stand-off distance. Several people stood around the truck and watched it burn” – Annen said.

Annen grabbed a fire-extinguisher and turned it at the flames coming from under the truck.

“After I used it up, I moved back and someone gave me another fire-extinguisher and said that I looked like I knew what I was doing” – Annen said.

Annen used up three fire-extinguishers before the fire flared up even worse, forcing Paul and the others to step back and wait for help. “We didn’t know what the driver was carrying and could it be explosive, but I believe our efforts prevented the worst outcome ” – Annen said.

As known from the accounts of eyewitnesses, the door of the truck was opened, the driver disappeared from the accident scene. Firefighters soon arrived and the fire was knocked out. Annen returned to his truck and spoke to his student-driver about the fire safety.

Annen has been working in trucking for 5 years. He previously served as a firefighter in the Navy.

Since the program was launched in 1997, nearly 1300 truckers have been acclaimed as «highway heroes».

Good job, truckers!