For rescuing an unconscious man from a burning car the Truckload Carriers Association named Joe Bearce a Highway Angel. Bearce is an escort driver for stone Trucking Co., of Kiefer Oklahoma.

Bearce was traveling on Highway 259 in Nacogdoches, Texas when a sedan traveling the opposite direction came into his lane and nearly hit him. Bearce swerved to avoid a collision and the sedan went off the road, hitting an embankment.

Bearce got out of his vehicle and grabbed a fire extinguisher to fight the flames which had engulfed the front of the car. He was able to enter the vehicle through a rear passenger door and pull the unresponsive driver out of the vehicle and drag him to safety.

While taking him to safety, the injured man awoke and in confusion hit Bearce in the face, who continued to carry him to safety despite this.

For his actions on that day, the TCA named Bearce a Highway Angel, presenting him with a certificate, patch, truck decal and lapel pin. Stone Trucking also received a certificate acknowledging the honor given to one of its drivers.

“If I hadn’t done what I did, there is no doubt in my mind he would have died in that car,” said Bearce. “I did what I thought I had to do - I’m far from a hero.”

To find out more about the Highway Angel program or nominate a driver, click here.