Anniston (AL) –The Truckload Carriers Association has designated James “Neil” Chandler , a truck driver from Anniston to be a Highway Angel in aiding in a fatal early morning head-on collision. Chandler is a driver for Bison USA from Amherst.

It’s an amazing story. Chandler was traveling south on Interstate 65, near Cave City KY, at 5:30 AM on October 12, 2022 when he came across an accident on the dark road.

He said that “a quick fog rose up” and then “everyone slammed their brakes.”

He pulled over with several trucks and called 911 to help the victims of the collision. After 16 years of service in the Army and Navy, Chandler received his military training and was able to return to the scene. He went to the scene and checked on the vehicle that had been hit. It was owned by a female driver with her two teenage daughters. The three children appeared to have suffered injuries and wanted out of the car. He tried to calm them, but he knew that the mother was still in the car.

Chandler found that the entire left side was destroyed when he checked on the car which had crossed over to the oncoming traffic. The driver was also dead.

Chandler stated, “I hate the fact that I couldn’t do anything.” Chandler returned to the car, with the mother and her children, and kept them calm until the emergency vehicles arrived.

Nearly 1,300 truck drivers have been honored as Highway Angels since August 1997 when the program was launched. This honor recognizes their exemplary kindness, courtesy and courage while on the job. TCA can showcase outstanding drivers like Mr. Chandler thanks to EpicVue as the presenting sponsor and DriverFacts as the supporting sponsor.

The Highway Angels website can be accessed at https://www.truckload.org/highway-angel/.