Trucker Named TCA Highway Angel for Extinguishing Truck Fire

April 28th, 2025

ALEXANDRIA, VA—The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) has named truck driver Kerry Netusil, from Hawley, Pennsylvania, a TCA Highway Angel for extinguishing the flames of a pickup truck that was on fire on the side of the road. Netusil drives for Bay & Bay Transportation out of Eagan, Minnesota.

It’s an incredible story: At 12:25 p.m. on April 22, 2025 in Archdale, North Carolina, Netusil was passing an older model pickup truck on the shoulder on Highway 85. He noticed that the unit was on fire, and the driver had no way to extinguish the flames.

“I pulled over and ran back with my fire extinguisher,” said Netusil.

The fire caused extensive damage to the truck, and Netusil, who has been a truck driver for eight years, quickly worked to extinguish it. The driver sustained injuries from the fire, which was caused when he plugged in his cell phone.

“The guy’s truck was totaled,” he said, “and he definitely burned part of his hand in the fire.”

Netusil’s grandfather and father were both firefighters, Netusil said, and he never hesitated to stop to help the distressed driver.

“I don’t like the idea of people losing stuff because I didn’t feel like pulling over,” he said. “It just doesn’t sit right with me.”

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 Netusil.

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