Truck Driver Keith Rahn Wins TCA Highway Angel Award After Protecting Assault Victim

August 14th, 2026

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Professional truck driver Keith A. Rahn of Forward Air (FAF, LLC) has been awarded the Truckload Carriers Association’s (TCA) Highway Angel Award after intervening to protect a woman who was being physically assaulted at a Salt Lake City-area truck stop.

The incident occurred at approximately 1:30 p.m. on August 10, 2026, at the Sapp Bros. Travel Center in the Salt Lake City area. According to a nomination submitted by Jordyn Washington, a 33-year-old Salem, Utah, resident who was the victim of the assault, Rahn intervened after witnessing her being attacked by her husband.

Rahn had been at the truck stop for only about 20 to 30 minutes when he went outside to walk his German Shepherd. As he came around a corner, he saw a man and woman arguing. The verbal altercation suddenly turned physical.

“I saw these two people. They were arguing. It was like a verbal altercation, and all of a sudden, out of nowhere, he just slapped the daylights out of this girl,” Rahn said.

Rahn immediately told the man to stop and intervened to protect the woman.

“I told him I was going to turn my dog loose if he didn’t stop,” Rahn said.

The man initially continued to act aggressively, prompting Rahn to again warn him to back away. Rahn’s German Shepherd remained with him as he confronted the situation.

“He just stood there like fuming mad and puffing his chest up and all that stuff,” Rahn said. “I told him once again, back up or I’m turning my dog loose, because I have a massive German Shepherd.”

The man eventually backed away, went to his car and left the scene. After the immediate danger had passed, Rahn brought the woman to his truck and made sure she had a safe place to stay while she arranged for a ride. He offered to contact law enforcement on her behalf, but when she declined, he respected her decision and continued to make sure she was safe.

Washington described Rahn’s intervention as a profound act of kindness and protection during an extremely frightening moment.

“Mr. Rahn did not simply witness what was happening and continue on his way,” Washington wrote in her nomination. “He interceded to stop the assault and protect me from further harm.”

She also recalled the comfort provided by Rahn and his dog.

“The presence of both Mr. Rahn and his dog made a difference,” Washington wrote. “In a moment when I was frightened and overwhelmed, having them there provided an immediate sense of safety and comfort.”

Rahn, a U.S. Army veteran, has been a professional driver for approximately nine years. He said the experience reinforced a simple principle that guides his actions on the road: when someone needs help, you don’t just drive away.

“I was just trying to make sure she was OK,” he said.

The TCA Highway Angel program recognizes professional truck drivers who demonstrate extraordinary kindness, courtesy and courage while on the job. Since the program’s inception in 1997, nearly 1,500 professional drivers have been recognized for going above and beyond to help others.

Thanks to the program’s presenting sponsor, EpicVue, and supporting sponsors DriverFacts and Northland Insurance, TCA is able to recognize outstanding professional drivers like Rahn.

To learn more about the TCA Highway Angel program, visit www.truckload.org/highway-angel/.