Without hesitation

Zach Yeakley credited his previous training as a combat lifesaver with the Army National Guard for his actions in helping to rescue several drivers from a fiery crash that involved as many as 50 vehicles, according to local news reports.

For his efforts on that day, Yeakley, a driver for Joplin, Mo.-based Contract Freighters Inc., was named the 2022 Highway Angel of the Year by the Truckload Carriers Association and presenting sponsor EpicVue on March 6 in Orlando, Fla.

At the awards presentation during TCA’s annual convention; EpicVue CEO Lance Platt thanked Yeakley of Batesville, Ark., for what he described as a “selfless act of courage.”

It was a foggy morning in March 2022.

Yeakley was on his route to West Memphis, Ark., and just crossed the state line into Missouri when he was alerted of a crash on his CB radio. As he approached the scene, he began to see smoke and saw a man flagging down traffic.

Yeakley immediately pulled over and ran toward the wreckage, which included several vehicles that were already on fire, to help.

“Some people had some broken arms, one had a collapsed lung and a few broken ribs from the impact,” Yeakley said. “There was one guy trapped in his truck. Me, a sheriff, a state trooper and a FedEx driver did what we could to get him out.”

Yeakley detailed the whole experience in a video CFI posted on its social media channels.

“It’s not just you out in the world, it’s everybody,” Yeakley said in the CFI video. “You don’t hesitate. You go in there and do what you got to do. Always be aware of your surroundings, and help out as much as you can. The more you do it helps show everybody else we’re in this together.”

Unfortunately, several fatalities resulted from the crash, according to local authorities.

However, Yeakley helped to rescue six crash victims from several vehicles.

Looking back on that day, Yeakley said he would not hesitate to do it again.

At TCA’s annual convention Yeakley was presented with a personalized crystal truck, and will also receive a complimentary EpicVue satellite TV package that includes a 24-inch flat-screen TV, a DVR, and a one-year subscription to over 100 channels of DirecTV programming.

Since 1997, TCA’s Highway Angel program has recognized professional truck drivers who have selflessly helped others while on the job, said the news release. LL