Trucker Assists Woman Who Crashed in a Creek

Truck driver Steve Elliot of Phenix City, Ala., has been named a Highway Angel by the Truckload Carriers Association for helping a woman search for her missing baby after she crashed her car into a creek.

Elliot, who drives for Charlotte, N.C.-based RCT, was pulling out of a rest stop on his way to Mobile, Ala., when he saw a woman crawling up a steep slope on the shoulder of the road. Elliot called 911 and got out to check on the woman, who was bloodied and visibly distressed.

It was then that the woman told him that her car had crashed in a creek and that her baby was still in the car. Elliott immediately ran down to the creek to search the car, submerged in 4 feet of water. He was unable to open the doors and crawled through the broken windshield to search for the child. He found a car seat, but there was no baby in it.

Firefighters arrived after 10 minutes and for nearly an hour he and the rescue crews began searching the surrounding area for the missing child. Luckily, the situation was not as desperate as it seemed as the woman, who was in shock from the accident, suddenly recalled that the baby was at home with her husband.

For his willingness to help the distressed woman, TCA presented Elliott with a certificate, patch, lapel pin and truck decal. RCT also received a certificate acknowledging Elliott as a Highway Angel.

“I was so relieved that the baby was with the dad, I was able to breathe again,” said Elliott. “I don’t consider myself a ‘hero’, I didn’t even think about it, I just did it.”

To nominate a driver or learn more about the Highway Angel program and its honorees, visit the Highway Angel website or Facebook page.