A heroic truckie has been honoured after he came to the aid of a fellow truckie, pulling him from a burning cab and ultimately saving his life.
The quick-thinking actions of Contract Haulage driver Steven Young have earned him the Bridgestone Bandag Highway Guardian accolade.
Young was travelling between Melbourne and Adelaide when he came across the fatal head-on collision involving a car that had veered onto the wrong side of the road and collided with a fully loaded B-double.
The collision caused the trailers to roll over and the prime mover to erupt into flames. After a quick assessment, Young came to the driver’s aid, pulling him into the safety of another vehicle until emergency services arrived.
The day after the incident, Young also called the truckie’s employer to check how he was following the crash.
Bridgestone Australia & New Zealand managing director, Heath Barclay, said Young’s story highlights the camaraderie of the industry. “His selfless actions, not just on the night, but following the crash demonstrates that the title is beyond fitting.
“Mr Young prevented a terrible crash becoming worse and showed incredible kindness and care for his fellow truck driver. This is precisely what the Bridgestone Bandag Highway Guardian embodies.”
Australian Trucking Association Chair David Smith also congratulated Young. “Your actions that night and in the follow up were selfless. We’re delighted to present you with this accolade,” he said.
“It’s crashes like this that put a spotlight on the dangers our truck drivers are exposed to on a day-today basis, and highlights the need for motorists to be aware of their surroundings at all times on the road.
“We are privileged to have heroes like Steven Young in our industry, because he shows genuine kindness for his peers and places importance on what matters most.”
The Bridgestone Bandag Highway Guardian accolade is evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the Australian Trucking Association. If you know a member of the industry who warrants the title, nominate them at truck.net.au/highwayguardian.