Truck driver saw woman running barefoot in the woods—he didn't know his life-saving call would change the woman's life
Sometimes, everyday heroes come in the form of people just doing their jobs, but paying close attention. One such story has recently caught national attention. A truck driver’s quick thinking helped rescue a woman from a terrifying situation, as reported by Yahoo News. The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) honored Ron Ross, a driver from Newport, Tennessee, with the title of Highway Angel. His actions on an ordinary afternoon led to a remarkable rescue, proving that even a moment of awareness can make all the difference.
One afternoon, Ross was parked at a rest stop along Interstate 40 in rural West Tennessee near Jackson, when something caught his eye. “This young girl went running to the right of my truck in the grass with shoes in her hand,” he recalled. “I thought in my head, ‘something’s not right about that.’” Moments later, he saw a man sprint after her into the woods. “It scared me,” he expressed, but made sure to act quickly. Alarmed, Ross immediately called 911. Within five minutes, a nearby Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper arrived, and the young woman, who had been abducted from California, was safely rescued.
Ross also shared dashcam footage from his windshield camera, which law enforcement can now use in the suspect’s prosecution. His role was critical not just in alerting authorities, but in preserving solid evidence. “I asked another truck driver who was there, ‘Did I just save that girl’s life?’ I hope I did,” Ross said. His employer, MCK Trucking, and their Safety Director, David Wheeler, praised Ross’s actions and emphasized the company’s commitment to 'Truckers Against Trafficking,' encouraging drivers to always report anything suspicious on the road.
The TCA Highway Angels program, which began in August 1997, has honored nearly 1,500 drivers for extraordinary acts of courage, kindness, and courtesy, as per TCA. Ross now joins this distinguished group. Ron Ross’s calm response and sense of responsibility didn’t just help one young woman; his story also reminds others to stay alert and act when something seems wrong. Because sometimes, a quick phone call can save a life.
In another rescue story, a Chinese firefighter ended up marrying the woman he once saved from a suicide attempt, as reported by SET News. The woman, whose name wasn't revealed, had climbed onto the ledge of an apartment building in Fuzhou, China, planning to end her life. When she slipped, emergency responders quickly acted. One grabbed her hands, another caught her leg, and others helped pull her up safely through a window. During the rescue, a firefighter in an orange suit accidentally pulled down her trousers, but didn’t hesitate to save her. The intense moment was caught on video by bystanders in a nearby building and later went viral on Chinese social media. Three months later, the woman shared that she had fallen in love with that very firefighter, and the two eventually got married.