PROFESSIONAL TRUCK DRIVER HELPS ELDERLY MAN AFTER ROLLOVER ACCIDENT

11/01/2016
Alexandria, Virginia

Carl Debehnke, of Newport, North Carolina, a professional truck driver for Best Dedicated, LLC of Kernersville, North Carolina, has been named a Highway Angel by the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA). He is being recognized for assisting an elderly man after he was involved in a rollover accident.

On August 3, 2016, around 3:30 p.m., Carl Debehnke was driving westbound on Interstate 74, near Greensburg, Indiana.  In the distance, he saw an eastbound van cross the median and flip over, coming to rest on its roof. Debehnke slowed his truck and came to a stop, quickly running over to the van to see if anyone was hurt. Inside, he saw an elderly man lying on his stomach, still strapped in his seat belt.  Needed to assess the man’s injuries, Debehnke went to the passenger side of the van and crawled through the sliding door. With broken glass everywhere, Debehnke had to move the shards to access the man still strapped in by the seat belt.

Debehnke checked the man’s vitals and loosened the seat belt, as much as he could, to help relieve pressure from the man’s shoulder. “I kept talking to him to keep him awake and alert until help arrived.” said Debehnke. When assistance arrived at the scene, Debehnke gave them a thorough account of what happened.  The Decatur County Sherriff’s Department called the professional truck driver’s company and complimented them on how well Debehnke had handled the situation. Debehnke was able to find out from the elderly man’s family that he was going to make a full recovery.

Debehnke has been driving for 28 years and is no stranger to helping at accidents.  “I have stopped at lots of accidents over the years. I learned first aid in the military so I try to help when I can,” he said.

For his willingness to help, TCA has presented Debehnke with a certificate, patch, lapel pin, and truck decal. Best Dedicated, LLC also received a certificate acknowledging Debehnke as a Highway Angel.

TCA’s Highway Angel program is sponsored by EpicVue. Both organizations are honored to recognize deserving professional truck drivers as Highway Angels for the unusual kindness, courtesy, and courage they have shown others while on the job.