Goodyear Highway Hero Finalists Announced

Goodyear Highway Hero Finalist

One of the trucking industry's most prestigious awards, each year since 1983 the Goodyear North America Highway Hero Award has recognized a professional truck driver who selflessly put him or herself in harm's way to save the lives of others. Goodyear recently announced this year's four finalists. The winner, who will receive a $5,000 award, will be selected by a panel of industry journalists and announced on March 27 at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Kentucky.

In a press release announcing the finalists, Gary Medalis, Goodyear Commercial Tire Systems marketing director, said: "The Goodyear Highway Hero Award recognizes truck drivers who put their lives on the line to help others. Each of our Highway Hero finalists took action without concern for his own safety in order to save another person from a life-threatening situation."

Last year's Highway Hero was Jason Harte of Rogers, Arkansas, a driver for Sammons Trucking of Missoula, Montana. Harte rescued a family of six from a smashed minivan. Congratulations to this year's Highway Hero finalists:

• Brian Dunn, a driver from Knoxville, Tennessee, rescued a 2-year-old boy trapped in the back seat of a flame-engulfed car.
• Tim Horton of Sheridan, Arkansas climbed 35 feet down a steep, brush-covered slope to rescue a teenager trapped in a car at the bottom of a ravine.
• Scott Rosenberg, a driver from Isanti, Minnesota, used his boom crane to flip over a pickup stuck upside-down in a pond and rescue the driver.
• Ivan Vasovic of Rancho Cucamonga, California charged into the flames repeatedly to rescue an injured truck driver from a burning diesel tanker.

Hundreds of truck drivers help motorists every year; their only reward a smile and a thank you. Truckers have suffered mightily during this winter's awful weather, but drivers have also performed countless selfless acts, putting aside their own needs and comfort to help stranded motorists. Who are these Highway Heroes? TruckerToTrucker.com wants to know. Post a comment and tell us about fellow drivers who deserve recognition and thanks.