ALEXANDRIA, VA—The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) has named truck driver Christopher Blount, from Sulphur, LA, a TCA Highway Angel for stopping to extinguish a car that was on fire on the side of the highway. Blount drives for Melton Truck Lines out of Tulsa, OK.

It’s an incredible story: On October 2, 2023, Blount was driving on I-10 on the outskirts of Houston, TX, when he noticed a car fire on the side of the road and a gentleman, on his cell phone, watching in dismay. Everyone was driving by, and no emergency vehicles had arrived yet. He was concerned with how big the fire was becoming and spreading.

“I wanted to stop and help him out and try to put out the fire, because the fire looked like it was starting to get worse,” Blount said. “The fire was starting to go from gray smoke to black smoke and I was concerned about it getting to the gas tank.”

He immediately pulled over and grabbed his fire extinguisher. Once he confirmed no one was in need of help, Blount began spraying the car engine and was able to extinguish most of the fire and prevent it from spreading even further.

“The driver was very thankful,” Blount said. “As soon as I actually got the fire out, the firetrucks got there.”

Since the TCA Highway Angels 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. Blount.

The TCA Highway Angels website can be accessed at https://www.truckload.org/highway-angel/.