Werner Enterprises Driver Named TCA Highway Angel

Jason Tolliver helped another truck driver survive a heart attack

Alexandria, Virginia:

Jason Tolliver, a professional truck driver for Werner Enterprises of Omaha, Neb., has been named a Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) Highway Angel for helping a fellow truck driver survive a medical emergency.

In the early morning hours of May 29, 2010, Tolliver was getting ready to leave a customer’s facility when he saw a man lying on the ground and security guards hovering over him. Apparently, William Hoage, a truck driver for Baylor Trucking of Milan, Ind., had been walking toward the rear of his trailer to secure his load when he stopped abruptly and collapsed to the ground.

Tolliver came over to help, found the driver to be unresponsive and immediately began administering CPR. He asked one of the security guards to call 911 and continued to provide CPR until medical personnel arrived and took over.

“I took an EMT course after high school, before I got into trucking,” said Tolliver. “It definitely came in handy that day.”

Hoage was transported to the hospital and was treated for a heart attack. He remained in the intensive care unit for several days and was released after about a week. His family later communicated to Werner that they are extremely grateful for Tolliver’s assistance.

For helping Hoage survive his heart attack, Tolliver has received a Highway Angel lapel pin, certificate, and patch. Werner Enterprises also received a certificate acknowledging that one of its drivers is a Highway Angel.

Since its inception in August 1997, the Highway Angels program has recognized hundreds of drivers for the unusual kindness, courtesy, and courage they have shown others while on the job. TCA has received letters and e-mails from people across North America nominating truck drivers for the program.