Trucker Named Highway Angel for Aiding Victims in Early Morning Crash

12/5/2022
Alexandria, Virginia

ALEXANDRIA, VA—

The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) has named truck driver James “Neil” Chandler, from Anniston, AL a Highway Angel for aiding in a fatal, early morning head on collision. Chandler drives for Bison USA out of Amherst, WI.

It’s an incredible story: Chandler was driving south on Interstate 65 near Cave City, KY, around 5:30 a.m. on October 12, 2022, when he encountered an accident on the dark highway.

“A quick fog came up,” he said, “then everyone slammed on their brakes.”

He and several other trucks pulled over, called 911, and then tried to aid the occupants of two cars that collided head-on. After spending 16 years in the Army and Navy, Chandler’s military training kicked in and he went to work at the scene. He checked on the car that was hit, which contained a female driver and her two teenage children. All three appeared to sustain injuries and wanted to exit the vehicle. He tried to keep them calm, knowing the mother was pinned in the car and may have to be cut out of the car.

Upon checking on the car that crossed over from the oncoming traffic and crashed into the other car, Chandler discovered the entire left side of the vehicle was destroyed and the driver was deceased.

“I hate that I couldn’t do anything,” Chandler said. He went back to the car with the mother and children in it and kept the family calm until emergency vehicles arrived.

Since the program’s inception in August 1997, nearly 1,300 professional truck drivers have been recognized as Highway Angels for exemplary kindness, courtesy, and courage displayed while on the job. Thanks to the program’s presenting sponsor, EpicVue, and supporting sponsor, DriverFacts, TCA is able to showcase outstanding drivers like Mr. Chandler.