Trucker Named TCA Highway Angel for

Helping Driver of Overturned Vehicle

November 4th, 2024

ALEXANDRIA, VA—The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) has named truck driver Clifford Newa, from North Little Rock, AR, a TCA Highway Angel for stopping to aid and rescue a woman who crashed her vehicle into a ditch in the middle of the night. Newa works for ABF Freight out of Ft. Smith, AR.

It’s a story of kindness: On October 20, 2024 around 3:15 a.m., Newa was traveling on I-40 in Cromwell, OK, when he noticed a car in the ditch with its hazard lights on. As he approached, he noticed the lights were flashing upside down.

“A woman passed me in a black BMW and several minutes later it’s upside down in a ditch,” Newa said. “I was the first one there so I pulled over.”

A retired Air Force Master Sergeant with 20 years of military service as well as a volunteer firefighter, Newa has extensive medical training for emergencies such as this one. Much to his surprise, when he got to the crashed vehicle, he found the motorist was alive and on the phone with her mother.

“There was not a scratch on this lady,” he said.

She had not called 911, so Newa went ahead and called. He then took off his jacket to give to the motorist due to the cool temperatures outside, since she wasn’t dressed for the cold. Then, he got her to stand up so he could evaluate any injuries, but he found none. He stayed with the motorist, who admitted she had fallen asleep at the wheel, until the emergency personnel arrived.

“I was taught to help people,” Newa said. “With 20 years in the military, it doesn’t matter where you’re at or what situation you have, I was raised to help people.”

Since the TCA Highway Angel program’s inception in August 1997, nearly 1,400 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 Mr. Newa.

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