Goodyear names 'Highway Hero' award finalists

AKRON—Goodyear will celebrate acts of heroism March 22 when it honors the three finalists for its 2018 Highway Hero Award, which will be given during a ceremony in Louisville, Ky., held in conjunction the 2018 Mid-America Trucking Show.

This marks the 35th year for the award, which honors professional truck drivers for brave and selfless acts that put them in harm's way as they work. Finalists for this year's award are Brian Bucenell of Richmond, Va.; Ryan Moody of Tacoma, Wash.; and Frank Vieira of Ancaster, Ontario.

"Since 1983, Goodyear has honored professional truck drivers who have put themselves in harm's way to help others, making the Goodyear Highway Hero Award the oldest and most prestigious honor of its kind," Goodyear Marketing Director Gary Medalis said in a statement.

Last year's winner, David Webb, was honored after he parked his truck and went to help a fellow motorist who had suffered a medical emergency and passed out while driving.

"It is our privilege to have recognized truck drivers for their extraordinary acts of heroism over the last three decades," Medalis said, "and we will continue this great tradition next month."

Bucenell is nominated for the award this year for helping the Ohio State Patrol apprehend suspects involved in a high-speed chase.

According to an account provided by Goodyear, Bucenell had just merged onto the Ohio Turnpike near Toledo when he overheard that troopers were in pursuit of a vehicle not far from his location. Moments later, he saw the vehicle and the troopers following behind.

As he entered a construction zone that forced traffic to merge from three lanes to two, the speeding vehicle attempted to pass Bucenell's 18-wheeler on the shoulder.

"Over the course of the next minute, while maintaining highway speed, Bucenell kept pace with the car, spotted an opening and maneuvered his truck to sandwich the car against the guard rail, stopping the vehicle and giving state troopers time to catch up with it," Goodyear said.

The driver and passengers, who were suspected of stealing the car, were apprehended.

Moody's act of heroism occurred while he was driving along a busy Chicago freeway. A motorcyclist swerved and crashed in front of his truck. Moody maneuvered to avoid a collision with the motorcyclist and then positioned his truck to protect the man from other vehicles.

Jumping out of his truck to check on the motorcyclist, Moody found him to be badly injured, Goodyear said. He used his shirt to wrap the man's head and calmed other bystanders as they waited for paramedics.

Moody later was credited with saving the man's life.

While driving near Toronto, Vieira heard a loud crash and looked over his shoulder to see that a car had collided with the back of a stationary roll-off truck. Vieira parked his truck and ran to the car to see if he could help.

According to Goodyear's account, the driver of the car had his neck pierced by a piece of his vehicle's steering column, which had snapped off on impact. Vieira placed one hand on the man's wound, applying direct pressure to ease bleeding while using his other hand to contact emergency services.

The driver of the roll-off truck also came to help, but fainted upon seeing the wounds the driver of the car had sustained. While continuing to apply pressure to the wound, Vieira, used his foot to pull the leg of the driver who had fainted away from traffic.

Emergency personnel arrived and transported both men who were involved in the collision to the hospital. Both of them, Goodyear said, survived.

This year's winner of the Goodyear Highway Hero Award will receive a special ring, a cash award and a trophy. All three finalists will receive cash prizes and other items.

"We look forward to naming our next Highway Hero, honoring our Goodyear Highway Hero Award finalists, and celebrating 35 years of the Goodyear Highway Hero Award program next month," Medalis said.