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IDOT Blog – Wednesday, October 13, 2021
Highway maintainer saves driver from overturned semi
District 7 Highway Maintainer Alan Ingle was hauling rock from the Casey gravel pit to Effingham when he saw a crash occur just ahead of him: A semi traveling southwest on Interstate 70 flipped and landed in a ditch. Ingle reacted immediately.
First, he warned oncoming traffic of the crash by flipping on his hazard lights and straddling the traffic lanes. Once he arrived at the scene of the crash, he noticed that fuel was leaking and realized he needed to act quickly to rescue the driver. He hopped on the cab and determined that the driver was conscious but confused. Ingle was able to reassure her that everything would be okay and helped her and her dogs get out of the cab. The driver walked away with minor scrapes and bruises.
“It was very apparent that the truck tractor was leaking diesel fuel from the tanks all over the underside of parts of the engine. The truck tractor could have easily caught fire with the driver still inside,” said Illinois State Trooper Ryan Mayhaus. “Mr. Ingle was able to help the driver before fire, EMS or any troopers could get to the scene. It is my opinion that Mr. Ingle helped save a life.”
Ingle isn’t a stranger to being in the right place at the right time. Earlier this year, he and a coworker came upon an overturned camper that was on fire. Equipped with military experience and training as a volunteer with the Toledo Fire Department, he was able to act quickly to extinguish the fire. Ingle said that he does not view the rescue as heroic.
“It’s part of our job to ensure the safety of the traveling public,” Ingle said.
And that is exactly what he did. “I am grateful for Ingle’s quick thinking and that we have many such employees across the state who spring into action to assist those in need,” said Region 4 Engineer Jeff Myers.
