ALEXANDRIA, VA. — On June 26, 2012, Steven Huett, a driver with Tennant Truck Lines of Colona, IL., was driving along highway 50 near Peabody, Kan., when he saw another Tennant truck parked on the side of the road.

With Tennant’s home terminal hundreds of miles away, Huett stopped to see if the driver needed any help.

The driver inside the vehicle was Jackie Kinley who had been working all day and pulled over when he started to feel “very hot.” Kinley was wringing his hands and rubbing his left arm. Huett, suspecting Kinley was having heart trouble, asked if he was experiencing a tingling sensation in his fingertips. He was.

Huett called 911 and by the time authorities had arrived on scene, Kinley’s condition had detoriated significantly. Kinley was rushed to the hospital.

Meanwhile, Huett drove Kinley’s rig to Peabody where he secured it in a safe location, and then asked a police officer to return him to his own truck.

Huett drove to the hospital where Kinley was taken only to be told that he had been transferred to another hospital. Huett drove to the second hospital where he found Kinley who was just being wheeled out of surgery and briefly thanked Huett for his life.

“When I was a new driver, more than 40 years ago, an old guy I looked up to told me it doesn’t matter where you are, you never drive by one of your own trucks parked on the side of the road,” Huett explained. “I’ve lived by that ever since, and this time, it paid off. Kinley is only one year older than me. I am so glad he’s going to be okay!”

The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) has recognized Huett as a Highway Angel. He received a Highway Angel lapel pin, certificate, and patch. Tennant Truck Lines also received a certificate acknowledging that one of its drivers is a Highway Angel.