Ontario driver among Goodyear Highway Hero finalists

Avatar photo

SHELBURNE, Ont. — Melville Farnell is the lone Canadian among four finalists for Goodyear’s North American Highway Hero Award.

Finalists include an Ohio truck driver who positioned himself between a woman and a gun-wielding attacker; Farnell, an Ontario driver who pulled a motorist from a car minutes before it exploded; a Minnesota driver who came to the aid of an elderly couple that had been trapped in a car during a raging snowstorm; and an Ohio driver who rescued a trapped motorist whose car had plunged into a pond.

“The Highway Hero Award recognizes professional truck drivers who put their lives on the line to help others,” said Phillip Kane, vice-president, Goodyear Commercial Tire Systems. “Each of our Highway Hero finalists rescued strangers who were in life-threatening peril, and each is a worthy candidate for the award.”

Farnell, a driver for Tupling Farms Produce, was making a delivery May 13, 2011 when a car travelling in the opposite direction veered into his path, colliding with his truck head-on. The crash caused Farnell’s tractor-trailer to jackknife and begin leaking fuel. Farnell was able to approach the car and rescue a semi-conscious motorist from his vehicle shortly before the car exploded.

Other finalists include John Crozman of Albertville, Minn., John Neumeier of Russia, Ohio and Mike Schiotis of Seville, Ohio.

The winner will be awarded at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville March 22.

Avatar photo

Truck News is Canada's leading trucking newspaper - news and information for trucking companies, owner/operators, truck drivers and logistics professionals working in the Canadian trucking industry.


Have your say


This is a moderated forum. Comments will no longer be published unless they are accompanied by a first and last name and a verifiable email address. (Today's Trucking will not publish or share the email address.) Profane language and content deemed to be libelous, racist, or threatening in nature will not be published under any circumstances.

*