Trucker Named TCA Highway Angel for

Rescuing Trapped Crash Victims

August 13th, 2025

ALEXANDRIA, VA—The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) has named truck driver John Patterson, 24, a TCA Highway Angel for helping trapped and injured crash victims. Patterson drives for Melton Truck Lines out of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

It’s an incredible story of awareness and quick action. On the afternoon of June 9, 2025, Patterson was en route to pick up a load from a local customer in Tulsa. As he approached the entrance and began to slow down for his turn, the driver behind him suddenly accelerated to pass — colliding with another vehicle pulling out of the customer’s parking lot.

Patterson immediately pulled over and ran to assist. One car had skidded into a ditch and was smoking heavily. Inside, the driver was unconscious and bleeding, with the door jammed shut. Acting quickly, Patterson forced the door open, unfastened the seatbelt, and pulled the driver to safety.

“They were trapped; there was a little bit of blood and smoke everywhere,” said Patterson. “That’s why I got them out — because there was smoke everywhere.”

He then rushed to the second vehicle that had crashed in a deep ditch. Its two occupants were a trapped couple who only spoke French. Their door was also stuck, so Patterson broke a window to free them and pulled them out through the passenger side window. A former U.S. Marine, Patterson carries a medical kit, which he used to render aid to the crash victims, both of whom were badly bleeding. He also contacted EMS and police. Upon their arrival, he relayed a full account of the accident to Tulsa officers and completed a formal report.

“Somebody was in danger, somebody was hurt — and stuck,” said Patterson. “If it was you, you’d want somebody to come help you.”

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 Patterson.

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