WA Highway Guardian honoured

The Australian Trucking Association and Bridgestone have announced the second recipient of the Bridgestone Bandag Highway Guardian award

Lou Morunga (pictured, right) of WA-based road freight firm Patience Bulk Haulage has been honoured as the latest recipient of the Bridgestone Bandag Highway Guardian award – a title that recognises any professional truck driver who has gone above and beyond the call of duty to perform a community-minded deed.

In April of this year Mr Morunga's quick thinking averted a head-on collision between his road train triple, fully loaded with iron ore, and an oncoming ute that had veered onto the wrong side of the Great Northern Highway, around 200km from Port Hedland.

Mr Morunga swerved but the vehicles still clipped each other, both then spinning. After safely bringing his damaged truck to stop, Mr Morunga alerted other trucks on the highway of the accident by radio and then assisted the injured driver of the ute, helping him to remain conscious until emergency services arrived to transport him to hospital. The driver has since recovered.

After the ambulance had departed Mr Morunga then remained at the scene to assist in the recovery of the vehicles.

Mr Morunga was presented with the Bridgestone Bandag Highway Guardian award at the Pilbara Heavy Haulage Girls industry and road safety day at Karratha, WA, the event also a part of the 2014 TruckWeek celebration of the Australian truck industry.

There Andrew Moffatt (pictured, left), Managing Director of Bridgestone Australia, highlighted the qualities that brought Mr Morunga into contention for the title.

"Lou's bravery and selfless nature attracted our attention and made him an ideal candidate for the Bridgestone Bandag Highway Guardian award," he said.

"His quick-thinking and willingness to help speak volumes, not only for Lou but for the many members of the trucking community that routinely go out of their way to help others.

"Bridgestone is enormously pleased that Lou has been announced as the second-ever Bridgestone Bandag Highway Guardian award recipient."

The award is an Australian Trucking Association initiative that highlights the efforts of some of the best people in the Australian trucking industry – people who would otherwise not be brought into the public eye.

The first recipient of the Bridgestone Bandag Highway Guardian was Brad Morrison of Nightingale Transport, the inaugural title awarded at the 2014 International Truck, Trailer & Equipment Show in Melbourne in early April. Upon coming across the scene of an accident, Mr Morrison had fought flames and smoke to rescue a baby girl from a burning wreck. Soon after the vehicle exploded, claiming the life of the girl's mother.

Mr Morunga said he didn't see his actions as exceptional.

"I did what any truckie would have done," he said.

"I'm just glad I lived to tell the tale, and him as well. If it had been another kilometre down the road it would have been a very different story – that part goes over a bridge.

The ATA's Chair, Noelene Watson, said Mr Morunga's skill and experience were telling factors on the day.

"In a situation like this it takes a lot of experience to know just how far you can push your equipment and what options are available to you," she said.

"Lou's quick actions and skilled driving enabled him to avoid a catastrophic head-on collision and save the life of a fellow road user.

"He also showed great compassion by staying with the injured driver and providing immediate aid and comfort until medical professionals could get to the scene.

"We're delighted to recognise Lou's brave actions by presenting him with the Bridgestone Bandag Highway Guardian award."

Mr Morunga will be hosted at the ATA's annual Trucking Australia event and honoured at the ATA Foundation Sponsors Gala Dinner, due to be held in Hobart, Tasmania, in March 2015.

Candidates for the Bridgestone Bandag Highway Guardian award can be nominated at any time by emailing ata@truck.net.au. For more information visit www.highwayguardian.com.au.

WA Highway Guardian honoured

Tags