Ronnie Milner of Valparaiso, Ind., a professional truck driver for ABF Freight System Inc., of Fort Smith, Ark., has been named a Truckload Carriers Association Highway Angel. Milner is being recognized for helping an elderly couple in trouble on the highway.

On Sept. 13, 2012, around 1:45 p.m., Milner was driving southbound along I-57 near Gilman, Ill., when he saw a white Buick turned sideways across both lanes. He stopped, put on his flashers, and went to investigate.


Inside the car, he found an elderly couple. Apparently, the husband had run into the cables in the median, which pushed the car back into the middle of the road. It was now severely damaged and blocking traffic.

Milner determined that the motorists were shook up, but not injured, so he helped them out of their car and escorted them to the shoulder. He then called 911 and used his truck to protect the vehicle from further damage as motorists tried to squeeze past the wreck. Milner stayed at the scene until authorities arrived and took over.

Milner, who has been a truck driver since 1989, says he has "seen some good, and seen some bad" during his years on the road. I did no more than anyone else would do, he said modestly. "I don't know how you could just drive by."

For helping the couple, Milner has received a Highway Angel lapel pin, certificate, and patch. ABF Freight System also received a certificate acknowledging that one of its drivers is a Highway Angel.