Victorville truck driver receives Highway Hero Award
A Victorville commercial truck driver is the grand prize winner of the 40th Anniversary Highway Hero Award, according to The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company.
Since 1983, Goodyear has recognized commercial truck drivers who go above and beyond their regular duties to keep our highways safe, company officials stated.
"The stories submitted this year reinforced the important job that commercial drivers play in our everyday lives and illustrate in heroic ways the powerful impact professional drivers can have on the roads, individual lives, and communities when they help others,” said Rich Cottrell, senior director, commercial marketing for Goodyear.
Elijah Ramos
In September, Ryder Transportation driver Elijah Ramos was on an early morning route through a stretch of sparsely populated and remote desert when a vehicle suddenly lost control in front of him.
The car had crossed two lanes of traffic, a median, and two more lanes of traffic before crashing into a field, the company said.
Elijah pulled over, rushed across the highway on foot, and helped the individual inside until first responders arrived. Once the driver was safe, Elijah went back to work and finished his route.
“Since it was such a remote area, it could have been a long time until help arrived,” Ramos said. “I was glad to be there when it happened and to call for help quickly.”
Timothy VanNostrand
In June, Timothy VanNostrand, an owner-operator of his own logging transport company from Northville, New York, sprang into action during a New York State Trooper traffic stop that escalated into a shootout.
VanNostrand used his logging truck to block the suspect's escape. In an intense 12 minutes, gunfire was exchanged between the trooper and the suspect, who later fled into nearby woods, pursued by police, the company said.
"I'm just grateful to have been in the right place at the right time and place to prevent the situation from being much, much worse, as my seemingly normal Friday route turned something that you only see on television,” VanNostrand said.
For the first time, Goodyear honored two Highway Heroes in honor of the award’s 40th milestone and the company’s 125th anniversary.
Ramos and VanNostrand will receive prizes from Goodyear in recognition of their heroic actions.
Additional finalists
Two additional finalists have been recognized as runners-up and will receive their own Goodyear prizes. The runners-up are:
Joshua Day: An ABF Freight driver from Potsdam, Ohio, sprang into action when a motorist's truck and camper spun out of control, flipped, and landed on the side of a busy road. Day swiftly pulled over, assisted the injured driver, and ensured their safety by moving them away from a hazardous propane leak until first responders arrived.
Russel Peasley: A Brakebush Transportation driver from Necedah, Wisconsin, witnessed a car veer off a busy interstate, flip, and land in a field. He joined other drivers to lift the car and rescue the trapped driver.
After freeing her, Peasley stayed by her side, providing comfort until emergency medical services arrived.
Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Victorville truck driver receives Highway Hero Award
