MOTORIST NOMINATES SWIFT TRANSPORTATION DRIVER FOR EXHIBITING EXCELLENT DEFENSIVE DRIVING SKILLS

09/09/2011
Alexandria, Virginia

The Truckload Carriers Association’s (TCA) latest Highway Angel is Nicholas Lewis, a professional truck driver for Swift Transportation of Phoenix, Arizona.

On July 31, 2011, at about 10 a.m., Lewis was driving through a construction zone on I-70 in Lawrence, Kansas, when a car attempted to pass him along the shoulder of the highway. Suddenly, the shoulder came to an end, and the driver swerved back into the lane, cutting Lewis off. Knowing that his truck was much heavier and could not possibly stop before hitting the car, Lewis deliberately steered into a ditch, risking his own safety to protect the inconsiderate man.

Fortunately, Lewis and his truck were okay, but Lewis’ wife thought enough of her husband’s quick thinking to nominate him as a Highway Angel. “My husband chose to save that man, who was risking everyone’s lives with his own selfish actions,” she wrote. “Although no one was hurt, that semi could have very easily flipped. Nicholas was calm and collected. He just pulled his truck out of the ditch and went on trucking. I hope that TCA recognizes him, because it was due to his quick thinking, great training, alertness and selflessness that no one was hurt or killed that day.”

For going above and beyond in the course of his job as a truck driver, Lewis has received a Highway Angel lapel pin, certificate, and patch. His company also received a certificate acknowledging that one of its drivers is a Highway Angel.

Since the program’s inception in August 1997, hundreds of drivers have been recognized as Highway Angels for the exemplary kindness, courtesy, and courage they have displayed while on the job.