ABF FREIGHT, INC. DRIVER ASSISTS TROUBLED MOTORIST

06/19/2018
Alexandria, Virginia

Victor Green, a professional truck driver with ABF Freight, Inc., of Fort Smith, Arkansas, has been named a Highway Angel by the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA). Victor is being recognized for helping a lost woman find her way.

On March 29, 2018, after a long day of work, Green was returning to the terminal to park for the evening when he found himself in the middle of potentially dangerous incident. He noticed a car sitting in the yard parked in front of his truck and an older woman waving her hand trying to get his attention. Assuming she needed directions, he cautiously approached the car and asked if there was anything he could do to help. The woman shared she was attempting to travel to Shreveport and didn’t know which way to go. Green pointed her to the interstate and told her to take 55 North to 20 West toward Shreveport.

The woman responded, “I don’t think I can do that. People have been giving me directions and telling me which way to go, but I always seem to get lost again.” This statement alarmed Green and made him think there could be something wrong with the woman. She asked him if he could get in the car with her and show her which way to go. He shared that he not able to get in the car with her, but he would walk alongside her to the interstate ramp.

When the woman left the terminal, she immediately turned the wrong way. Green knew something was definitely wrong, so he jotted her tag number down, grabbed his bags out of the truck, and went inside. He quickly found his dispatcher and explained the situation. They called the police department in Byrum, where she was headed, but they said there was nothing they could do unless there was a report of something wrong or the woman had been missing for 24 hours.

At this point it was long past time for Victor to go home. “After a long day like that, you’re just really ready to go home, you know?” he said. “I got my bag, clocked out and started walking across the yard, and something poked me inside and said there was something more I needed to do.” He got in his truck and decided to go look for the woman.

He headed toward Byrum on the frontage road to see if he recognized the car anywhere, even though it was very dark. After traveling several miles, he looked over the interstate and saw a car headed north with the interior light on. Something told him he needed to turn around, so he got back on the interstate and came up behind the car. It was the woman, driving about 30 mph on the interstate with people traveling at high rates of speed, blowing by, honking at her, which almost caused several accidents. Green continued to trail her with his flashers on as she turned onto different interstates, and called his dispatcher and the police department.

Finally, the woman pulled over and Green was able to walk up to the car slowly, as not to alarm her. He called out, “Ma’am I don’t know if you remember me, but I’m the man who gave you directions earlier, and now I’m here to help you get to where you need to be.” He stayed with her and kept her calm while waiting for the police to arrive.

After Green asked where she was trying to get to, the woman said her sister had passed away in Shreveport and she was trying to make it to the service that was tomorrow. This tugged at his heartstrings and he asked if there was anyone he could call to let them know she was alright. The woman gave Green what he thought was her brother’s number, which she remembered, although it was her son, who was beyond appreciative for tracking her down. Her son confirmed she was not supposed to be driving, especially at night, as she gets confused and cannot see clearly. The police department arrived on the scene and began talking to the woman as well as her son, so he knew she was in good hands.

In response to what motivated him to help that evening, he said, “The Spirit led me to do what I had to do or else someone could have been hurt or lost a life. I wasn’t doing it for any recognition or anything. I have a mother and you just don’t want to see anyone in this situation in their life. I may never see this lady again, but we are all God’s angels. He watches over us, and by him telling me to protect and watch over a stranger, I feel like that particular day I was her angel to get her on the right track.”

Green shared with TCA that he’s a Christian and that evening reminded him of a Bible verse he always turns back to: Hebrews 13:1-2. “Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”

For his willingness to assist his fellow driver, TCA has presented Victor with a certificate, patches, lapel pin, and truck decals. ABF Freight, Inc. also received a certificate acknowledging him as a Highway Angel.