Trucker Named TCA Highway Angel for

Trying to Aid Crash Victims in Early Morning

Accident

June 27th, 2025

ALEXANDRIA, VA—The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) has named truck driver Ashley Smith, from Cisco, Texas, a TCA Highway Angel for stopping and trying to help victims of an early morning crash in Arizona. Smith drives for Decker Truck Line out of Fort Dodge, Iowa.

It’s an incredible story: On June 7, 2025 in Kingman, Arizona around 2:15 a.m. on U.S. Hwy 93, Smith, a lease purchase operator for Decker Truck Line, Inc., arrived at the scene of a crash shortly after it had occurred. A car with two men in it was driving the wrong way on the highway and crashed head-on into a car with a man, woman and three-year-old child. Demonstrating a high level of composure and professionalism, Smith safely positioned her vehicle, ensured her own safety, and jumped into action.

“I got out of the truck, I called 911,” said Smith. “The silver car basically started to catch fire and caught fire to the other one before anybody could get there.”

Smith did her best to try to extinguish the fire and used her flashlight to try to alert drivers to the deadly crash, putting herself at risk directing traffic.

“I didn’t want somebody to hit the two cars that were there and in the process, I almost got hit by a semi that was not paying attention,” Smith said. “I had to dive off the highway.”

Unfortunately, all five people involved in the early morning crash were dead at the scene. Smith’s actions that day were not only selfless but went unspoken — she did not report the incident to her team. It was only brought to light when law enforcement reached out to Decker Truck Line for possible dashcam footage. Trooper Miller specifically acknowledged Smith’s helpfulness in his follow-up, which highlighted her instinctive drive to serve and protect without seeking recognition.

“I was just doing what I hoped anyone would do,” she said.

Since the TCA Highway Angel program’s inception in August 1997, nearly 1,500 professional truck drivers have been recognized as TCA Highway Angels for exemplary kindness, courtesy, and courage displayed while on the job. Thanks to the program’s presenting sponsor, EpicVue, and supporting sponsors, DriverFacts and Northland Insurance, TCA is able to showcase outstanding drivers like Smith.

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