By C1 Staff
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A truck driver who saved a correctional officer from being strangled by an inmate was named the 32nd Goodyear Highway Hero at the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) on Thursday.
Today’s Trucking reports that Clinton Blackburn was driving near Elizabethtown, Ky., last year when he saw a sheriff’s cruiser lurch toward the highway median and abruptly stop. He decided to investigate and found Spencer County jailer Darrell Herndon being strangled from behind by a prisoner.
Blackburn immediately interceded on the jailer’s behalf. The prisoner grabbed Herdon’s gun, which Blackburn grabbed and pointed toward the car’s dashboard. This distraction allowed Herdon to release his seat belt and get out of the vehicle.
Blackburn then gained complete control of the gun and pointed it at the prisoner. The prisoner then took control of the vehicle and attempted to drive away, but both Herdon and Blackburn were able to subdue him.
Blackburn received a Highway Hero ring, $5,000 and other items in gratitude for his courageous actions.