Melton driver named Highway Angel after crash rescue in Ohio
Brian Koppenhaver climbed into wreckage, stabilized trapped passenger, and coordinated with emergency crews after I-70 collision.
What did the Melton driver do at the crash scene?
Brian Koppenhaver, a Melton Truck Lines driver, pulled a trapped passenger back from the edge after witnessing a semi and box truck collision on Interstate 70 near West Jefferson, Ohio, on July 30. The Truckload Carriers Association named him a Highway Angel for the rescue.
Koppenhaver found the box truck crushed, with passenger Mario pinned inside. Mario's head was jammed where the dashboard had been, his feet pushed back toward the cab. He wasn't breathing and showed no response.
Koppenhaver climbed into the wreckage, cut Mario's shirt open, and began assessment. He performed a sternum rub to stimulate consciousness while keeping Mario's neck immobilized because of possible spinal and head injuries.
"I did a sternum rub and stuff like that. Got him somewhat conscious," Koppenhaver said.
Once Mario began moving, Koppenhaver called 911 and stayed with him while emergency crews traveled to the scene. Mario had lacerations on his left arm and both legs pinned beneath the wreckage.
How Koppenhaver coordinated the extrication
When paramedics arrived, Koppenhaver requested a cervical collar for Mario and briefed firefighters on what they would face. Firefighters used the jaws of life to cut through the vehicle.
Mario was freed and transported for emergency treatment. He remains hospitalized in intensive care and lost both legs in the crash, according to Koppenhaver.
Koppenhaver is a U.S. military veteran and retired U.S. Postal Service employee. That background gave him the composure and medical knowledge to manage a chaotic scene until professional rescuers took over.
What the Highway Angel program recognizes
The TCA Highway Angel program honors professional truck drivers who stop to help at crash scenes, medical emergencies, and other roadside incidents. The recognition puts drivers in the public eye for work that often goes unnoticed.
Driver skill competitions like the National Truck Driving Championships spotlight safe driving technique. The Highway Angel program highlights the other half of the job: the judgment and guts it takes to step into danger when someone else's life is on the line.
For owner-operators and small fleets, stories like Koppenhaver's are a reminder that the driver you hire or the lease-purchase candidate you bring on board carries more than freight. When a crash happens in front of your truck, the person behind the wheel makes the call. Koppenhaver made the right one.
