by M. H. Niemann
Texas, USA
It was too early and still dark at 5:30 a.m. as I drove through Houston, Texas, on the way to my parents’ house for our 2008 Thanksgiving dinner.
As I drove south out of town on Highway 59, somewhere between Richmond and Rosenberg, I noted brake lights on the cars in front of me.
As I got closer, I saw two 18-wheeler tractor-trailer rigs, one in each lane, slowing down until they were next to each other and blocking any traffic from getting around them. I thought maybe there was an accident, or perhaps one of the trucks was getting in position to pass the other one.
When the situation continued and the rigs slowed down even further, I got annoyed and started grumbling at the delay, cursing the rudeness of drivers with no consideration for others sharing the road with them. By this time, the rigs had slowed to almost 20 miles per hour, and there was a long line of impatient cars behind them.
My whole mindset changed dramatically, however, when I was able to peek into the gap between the rigs at the road ahead. I saw a car weaving all over the road, slowing down and speeding up, swerving from one shoulder to the other.
The two rigs never faltered in their tandem blockade, ignoring the impatient honks of the cars behind them and moving as necessary to keep cars from going around them on the highway shoulders. This situation continued for another 15 minutes until three police cars, lights flashing, came racing up the access road and around the two 18-wheeler rigs.
I watched while the police cars herded the weaving car to the side of the highway and forced it to stop. The 18-wheeler rigs then sped up and moved over to let all the cars pass by.
I have no doubt those two 18-wheeler rigs saved many lives, not to mention the impaired driver of the weaving car, on that Thanksgiving morning. I only wish I had had the presence of mind to note which trucking companies those drivers worked for so I could have sent their companies a note.
I’ve always considered 18-wheeler truckers the unofficial “angels” of the highway. They are often in the right place at the right time and always, in my experience, help when they can with no expectations of reward or even thanks. What I observed that November morning only reinforced my opinion of these unsung Good Samaritans.
I gave those two truckers what thanks I could by honking and waving as I drove by… on my way to a truly thankful day with my family.
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I absolutely LOVE this story!! I have a special place in my heart for our 18-wheel angels on the road.
Around 1978 I drove my old station wagon out to photograph Multnomah Falls shrouded in ice from recent cold temps. It’s a GORGEOUS sight to behold. On my way home my old car overheated in a tiny town. It was cold. It was windy and it was icy. Out of nowhere came an 18 wheeler. He took a look at the radiator and said it needed more than he could provide. This was before cell phones so I was trying to figure out how I would get home. This kind man offered to take me close to home. Of course being a teenage girl I was apprehensive but I knew from my father that truckers were highway angels. I took him up on his offer. This gentleman took me all the way home to my apartment, winding his way through the city streets. I will NEVER forget this generosity!
I can’t top that story! But my oldest son was a truck driver, and I know they have to obey so many safety regulations that they all want to do what they can to make it safer for everyone.
Wonderful story!
Professional drivers are unsung heroes too often getting and taking the blame in accidents they didnt cause.
Thanks so much for this remiinder of kindness!
They are angels indeed. For 20 years I commuted 60-miles each way to work on the Interstate, plus many many days on the road for my job. I learned so much from those semi drivers! I’ve seen them do exactly what this story relates, I’ve seen them deftly avoid idiots who cut them off in fast-moving traffic, I learned to flash my headlights twice when they were safely past me when passing, and without fail, they flashed their brake lights in thanks. And of course I’ve seen many stories about a driver guiding a lone woman driver through ice storms and blizzards to safety, stopping to help stranded families or individuals, probably wrecking their own delivery schedules. Hats off to the highway angels!