Leechburg truck driver named Highway Angel for act of kindness on the road

Truck driver Greg Rupp, a Leechburg resident, expected his last route at 5 a.m. to be his usual quiet drive. But on Oct. 14, he witnessed a horrific event.

What he did next earned him a Highway Angel award from the Truckload Carriers Association, the national group that represents his profession.

When Rupp drives down Route 40 outside of Brownsville, he knows to be cautious because the road has twists and turns. On the morning of Oct. 14, as he approached the stop light toward the bottom of a hill, he slowed down to check his mirrors and saw several cars behind him.

He then noticed a car from the other side of the intersection hit something on the side of the road, causing it to fly in the air. When Rupp looked closer, he noticed that what was flying in the air was a person.

“I was like, ‘What did I just witness?’ ” he recalled. Then he saw “there was a guy on the pavement trying to get up.”

Instantly, Rupp called 911. He moved his truck to the side of the road. He grabbed a flashlight and put on a vest to help direct traffic to help prevent any other accidents from happening. Whatever he had scheduled that morning was put aside. He stayed put until help arrived and beyond.

Rupp was able to figure out what had happened: A man was trying to push his broken-down vehicle, a Jeep, to the side of the road. A passing car clipped the driver’s side of Jeep, spinning it off the road and sending the man airborne.

Rupp said two other people were on the scene helping the injured person before first responders came. Rupp made sure to give his witness statement when they arrived. He later would learn the person died two days later.

“It was just a reaction,” he said of his contribution that day. “It is just something somebody should do anyhow.”

Executives at his employer, Ward Trucking, nominated Rupp for the Highway Angel award.

“It’s imperative to recognize professional truck drivers like Greg as he’s not only delivering essential goods and services, but he’s stopping to help someone in need while on the job,” said Marli Hall, TCA’s senior director of outreach and engagement.

The Highway Angel program was founded in 1997 by the TCA president at the time, Lara Batts. Hall said Batts wanted to find a way to bring public awareness and appreciation for professional truck drivers, highlighting their actions caring for others while on the road. An estimated 75 drivers are recognized each year. A total of 1,300 have been named recipients overall.

Rupp was shocked when he received news about the nomination late last year. He received a handwritten letter from the vice president of his company for his act.

“It wasn’t something I was looking for,” Rupp said. “I did what I did because it was the right thing to do.”