A TRUCKIE who plucked a baby from a burning car on the Cunningham Highway late last year has been honoured nationally by being named the inaugural Bridgestone Bandag Highway Guardian.
Brad Morrison from the Jimboomba-based Nightingale Transport came upon the scene of a tragic accident near Aratula on 14 November which had left a young mother unconscious and both she and her baby trapped in a burning car.
Mr Morrison was able to get through the flames, smoke and fuel surrounding the scene to rescue the 10-month-old girl from the back seat just before the car exploded. Sadly, the mother could not be rescued.
The Highway Guardian award is an initiative of Bridgestone and the Australian Truck Association to recognise community service by professional truck drivers who go above and beyond the call of duty during the course of their work, and was presented for the first time at the Trucking Australia event in Melbourne.
“Brad’s selfless actions sum up everything that the Bridgestone Bandag Highway Guardian award stands for,” said Andrew Moffatt, managing director of Bridgestone Australia.
“His bravery in the face of extreme danger speaks volumes, not only for Brad himself but also for the trucking community in general.”
Mr Morrison was on one of his regular runs when he came upon the accident.
“I was just past Cunningham’s Gap on the way into Brisbane ‐ I do that run quite a lot ‐ when I got a call over the UHF radio that a truck had gone into the bushes,” he recalled.
“I slowed down and came round the bend, expecting to see him just run off the road, and saw a big crash instead ‐ the truck was jack knifed and there was a little car, all on fire.
“There was diesel all around from the truck. The crash must have ruptured the main tank ‐ I reckon he’d only just filled up ‐ so there was probably about 1500 litres spilling around.
“I pulled up and jumped out as quickly as I could to see if there was anything I could do to help. As I came up around the back on the little car, I could hear a baby crying.
“I just had to get in there, I had to get the baby out.”
ATA chairwoman Noelene Watson said Mr Morrison was a highly deserving recipient of the award.
“While we would like to extend our greatest sympathies to the family, Brad’s quick thinking and decisive action enabled him to save the child at great risk to his own life,” she said.
“For these reasons, it is our great pleasure to present Brad with the first Bridgestone Bandag Highway Guardian award.”
A Bridgestone Bandag Highway Guardian candidate may be acknowledged at any time during the year. The title is not exclusive to one person, but rather will belong to a growing number of drivers over time.
Each award recipient will be hosted to the ATA’s national Trucking Australia event, including flights, full delegate registration and accommodation. New Bridgestone Bandag Highway Guardians will be honoured at the ATA Foundation Sponsors Gala Dinner.
Potential Bridgestone Bandag Highway Guardian candidates can be brought to the ATA’s attention at any time by emailing ata@truck.net.au
