January Team Player Highlight
Helping others in need has always been an important part of our company’s culture, and we are impressed that so many examples are forwarded to our attention regularly. Recently, one driver in particular exceeded those expectations when he was faced with an emergency situation along his route.
We are honored and proud to highlight Marlin Sweeton as this month’s team player. Marlin is a solo driver for Storey and has been with us for years. On New Years Day, Marlin had just unloaded in Salt Lake City and was headed back over Sherman Mountain in Wyoming when he came across an accident that had just occurred. The weather was awful, high winds and heavy snow made visibility difficult, but he noticed a car had flipped and landed in a snow embankment on its side. He safely parked the truck and with another trucker that had stopped, they quickly approached the car, terrified of what they might find. They discovered a 16 year old girl, frighted and reasonably scared, but thankfully not injured. The two men were able to help her get out of the car and get her to a safe, warm place. Marlin called the highway patrol to report the accident and then spoke with Storey dispatch to make sure it was ok to stay with the young lady until the police arrived, which they wholeheartedly agreed would be best. While they waited, Marlin helped calm her down as well as contact her parents and assure them that she was safe. Once the police arrived, Marlin wished her well and got back on the road.
When asked about what made him stop, he immediately responded that he had to. One of his daughters was in a wreck when she was 20 and his other daughter is now 15, learning to drive. His fatherly instincts took over. The most important thing at that moment was to make sure that the girl was comforted in such a traumatic situation, just as he would want for his daughters.