Angel of Safety
Helping others in need is part of the job for trucker Dawna Jacobsen.
By Karen Eull
WINNIPEG-BASED TRUCK DRIVER Dawna Jacobsen credits divine intervention for helping her save an injured boy on Highway 11 — an arm of the Trans-Canada Highway in Northern Ontario — on a December evening in 2022, but her vigilance as a driver and care for others played a huge part, too.
“So many things went sideways that day that kept me delayed so I could be there at that time,” Jacobsen says.
Jacobsen typically avoids Highway 11 on her trucking routes, but a storm diverted her that night when she was already running late. That’s how she came upon the scene of an incident near Kapuskasing, Ont., where a 12-year-old snowmobiler had been struck by a car while crossing the highway. “It was getting dark… and just starting to snow… I saw, ahead of me, an array of things that made no sense… so, at that point, I slowed down. I saw something coming toward me, like a large box, so I just went ahead and [veered] off onto the shoulder and put my hazards on.”
Winnipeg’s Dawna Jacobsen keeps safety in her sights. | PHOTO: COURTESY OF DAWNA JACOBSEN
“So many things went sideways that day that kept me delayed so I could be there at that time.”
What she had seen was the boy’s snowmobile skidding toward her. By stopping, she not only avoided hitting it but also blocked traffic, preventing further harm to the boy who was lying injured in the road.
Jacobsen dialled 911 and rushed to work along with others who had stopped to help. “I was terrified for his life,” she says. “Once I got to where the boy was, I could see that he was alert and conscious.” The boy recovered from his injuries, in no small part thanks to Jacobson’s help. For her quick thinking, she received the 2023 Bridgestone-OTA Truck Hero Award and was chosen as a 2023 Truckload Carriers Association’s Highway Angel of the Year. She appreciates the accolades, but is glad to be back to normal — on the roads she loves driving. “Was I the same person before and after, and would I do the same again? Yes,” she says. “It’s who I am. If somebody needs help, I’m out there to make sure I do what I can.” CAA
Do you know someone who goes above and beyond?
We’d love to hear about them. Submit your nominations, and they could be our featured Localer in an upcoming issue.
Winnipeg’s Dawna Jacobsen keeps safety in her sights. | PHOTO: COURTESY OF DAWNA JACOBSEN
WINNIPEG-BASED TRUCK DRIVER Dawna Jacobsen credits divine intervention for helping her save an injured boy on Highway 11 — an arm of the Trans-Canada Highway in Northern Ontario — on a December evening in 2022, but her vigilance as a driver and care for others played a huge part, too.
“So many things went sideways that day that kept me delayed so I could be there at that time,” Jacobsen says.
Jacobsen typically avoids Highway 11 on her trucking routes, but a storm diverted her that night when she was already running late. That’s how she came upon the scene of an incident near Kapuskasing, Ont., where a 12-year-old snowmobiler had been struck by a car while crossing the highway. “It was getting dark… and just starting to snow… I saw, ahead of me, an array of things that made no sense… so, at that point, I slowed down. I saw something coming toward me, like a large box, so I just went ahead and [veered] off onto the shoulder and put my hazards on.”
What she had seen was the boy’s snowmobile skidding toward her. By stopping, she not only avoided hitting it but also blocked traffic, preventing further harm to the boy who was lying injured in the road.
Jacobsen dialled 9-1-1 and rushed to work along with others who had stopped to help. “I was terrified for his life,” she says. “Once I got to where the boy was, I could see that he was alert and conscious.” The boy recovered from his injuries, in no small part thanks to Jacobson’s help. For her quick thinking, she received the 2023 Bridgestone-OTA Truck Hero Award and was chosen as a 2023 Truckload Carriers Association’s Highway Angel of the Year. She appreciates the accolades, but is glad to be back to normal — on the roads she loves driving. “Was I the same person before and after, and would I do the same again? Yes,” she says. “It’s who I am. If somebody needs help, I’m out there to make sure I do what I can.” CAA