Trucker Named TCA Highway Angel for

Assisting Police in Stopping Suicidal Driver

November 8th, 2024

ALEXANDRIA, VA—The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) has named truck driver John Dodridge, from West Carrollton, OH, a TCA Highway Angel for  assisting police in stopping an apparently suicidal driver. Dodridge works for ABF Freight out of Ft. Smith, AR.

It’s a story of kindness and bravery: On October 30, 2024 around 3:10 a.m ., Dodridge was driving on I-74 near mile marker 93 in Indianapolis, IN.  A woman in a silver Toyota Yaris drove her car directly toward Dodridge on the interstate and Dodridge came dangerously close to striking her car.

“I saw headlights up ahead of me—she was coming at me,” Dodridge said. “Once she got past me, she parked in the road.”

Dodridge said she backed up, hit a guard rail and parked again, then backed up going in the wrong direction again. Next, the driver did several donuts on the road, spinning her car in circles, before heading in the correct direction.

“It was very bizarre,” he said. “The behavior was not normal. I just kept thinking, she’s gonna hurt somebody.”

During this time, Dodridge called 911 to alert authorities. He noted that several members of his immediate family were killed in an accident by a drunk driver, so he was particularly active to stop the driver.

“When I see people driving like that on the road, I take it very personally,” said the former U.S. Navy member. “I was determined to stop her.”

Dodridge followed the woman, who drove erratically, for approximately 25 miles on several highways. He called 911 repeatedly to alert police. Finally the woman driver cut across several lanes of traffic and drove into a McDonald’s parking lot.

“I blocked that intersection with my semi so she couldn’t get back out,” he said. “She drove over the sidewalks, through the bushes, but I trapped her.”

Police arrived on the scene at the McDonalds and Dodridge offered his dashboard camera footage to help.

“I’m always trying to look out for the little guy,” said Dodridge, who is 6’5”. “It’s just in my blood, I guess. I don’t like to see people get hurt.”

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. Dodridge.

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