Transport America Driver Named 2nd Place Winner of the 2004 Goodyear North America Highway Hero Award
Transport America Driver Named 2nd Place Winner of the 2004 Goodyear North America Highway Hero Award
In April 2004, Transport America drivers Pat and Brenda Foraker began their route to Greenville, Michigan.They decided to take the scenic route instead of their usual path to the shipper and consequently played a major role in saving the lives of two young women. The Forakers’ story serves as a reminder that behind the wheel of tractors on roads across the country, there are heroes. It is a testament to the quality of people that make the transportation industry their home. Transport America congratulates Pat Foraker because he is truly a highway hero.
With only three miles to go before their destination on that April day, the Forakers arrived on the scene of an accident. Apparently, a Cavalier with a man and a woman in their mid 20’s had driven into the path of a woman driving a Lumina. Immediately, the couple pulled over and searched for survivors. Brenda found the driver of the Lumina trapped, but conscious. Neither person in the Cavalier was breathing and both were trapped. Pat accessed the area and found that the man in the Cavalier was dead. Brenda helped the young woman breathe by holding her chin up, clearing her airway until the paramedics arrived.
Once the ambulance arrived on the scene, Pat jumped in to start the jaws-of-life and kept it running while the fire department worked for an hour to free the trapped woman. The Forakers stayed at the scene for a total of two and a half hours. A few days later they called the hospital to learn both women survived the ordeal and had been moved from fair to good condition and would be discharged soon.
All finalists for the 2004 Goodyear North America Highway Hero award received an all expense paid trip for two to the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, KY. During the Show, Pat was announced as the second place winner. In addition to recognition, each finalist received a savings bond ($5,000 for each of the three finalists and $10,000 for the National Highway Hero).
Pat and his wife are both members of the Quaker City Volunteer Fire Department in Quaker City, Ohio and additionally Brenda is an EMT. Both enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren and feel blessed with the opportunities they’ve found on the road while driving for Transport America.
