A Winnipeg truck driver is being recognized after she helped rescue a young snowmobiler.

Every year, the Truckload Carriers Association awards one professional driver with the Highway Angel of the Year award. The award is given to truck drivers who have selflessly helped others while on the job. This year, for the first time in its history, the TCA recognized three drivers, including Dawna Jacobsen from Winnipeg.

In December 2022, Jacobsen was driving along Highway 11 in northern Ontario when she noticed something coming toward her vehicle. 

"I saw lights that were not from the cars, and I just knew something wasn’t right,” she said to the TCA. “I slowed down, put my flashers on and pulled over to not get hit by what I thought was a large box — it turned out to be a Ski-doo (snowmobile) coming at me.”

She then realized a 12-year-old boy had been struck and was seriously injured.

"As a person of faith, I know that God was involved in it," said Jacobsen.

She quickly called 911 and pulled over to stop, signalling to an oncoming truck heading east to also do the same, preventing the boy from being further injured. 

“We are grateful and honoured to have a professional and alert driver like Dawna on our team,” said Sheldon Wheeler, a spokesperson for Erb Transport to the TCA. “Her ability to recognize potential danger and to react appropriately helped save a young boy’s life.”

The other two drivers recognized were Tony Blunnie of Knight Transportation and Terry Reavis of Maverick Transportation LLC. They were all recognized at a luncheon awards program held at the TCA's annual convention in Nashville.