|
Bill and Lynne Ballantyne
Highway Angels
On September 4, 2001 Bill and Lynne Ballantyne stopped at the Petro in Effingham, IL, for fuel and food. Little did they know they would end up making a difference to James Matlein, a fellow driver.
Upon leaving the restaurant, Lynne took their dog for a walk. She noticed a driver had stopped his truck in the traffic lane and was stooped over another driver lying on the ground.
Lynne ran over to help. Lynne and the other driver helped James back into his truck. James told them he had been feeling poorly for a day or so. Lynne tried to get the driver to go to the hospital and he refused. “Gotta deliver this load tomorrow.” Lynne realized it was unsafe for James to drive and she went to get Bill for help.
Bill and Lynne decided that together they could convince James that he should go to the hospital. They assured him they would watch his truck, and told him not to worry. Bill moved it to the row next to his where it would be safe. They made sure he had his insurance cards in the front of his wallet, packed up all the meds he was taking for his diabetes, put the keys to the truck in his pocket and kept him comfortable until the EMT arrived (November).
Bill and Lynne called HTL (James’ company) and advised them of the situation. They also called James’ wife to let her know where her husband was going and gave her the number to the hospital.
|
Bill and Lynne traveled to the hospital so that he wouldn’t be alone, and waited until he stabilized. When they finally got to see James, they joked a bit and left behind a copy of “Landlines” for him to read.
James spent 15 days in intensive care, and he is now recovering at home. He said “My wife retired me before I got out of the hospital.” James had been a truck driver for 46 ½ years.
“It’s a good thing that they (Lynne and Bill) made a stand and didn’t let me get back on the road. My wife tried to get me to the doctor before I left home. Guess I should have listened” James remarked.
Lynne viewed what they did, like this: “We let our instincts guide us to do the ‘best we could’ in handling the crisis and then ‘being there’ for him, for comfort and moral support, alone and a long way from home. We did what we like to think some other driver would do for us, if the shoe were on the other foot.”
Bill and Lynne stated that they were guided by the following scripture passage: "The heart of earthling man may think out his way, but Jehovah himself does the directing of his steps." -Proverbs 16:9
ATS is proud of the effort Bill and Lynne made in assuring the safety of another driver and his truck, and by keeping the road safe for everyone.
Bill and Lynne have been nominated and accepted into the Highway Angel Program which recognizes worthy individuals for random acts of kindness, who keep America moving.
|
