Driver Saved Girl, Earns Highway Hero Honour

Truck driver Richard Filiczkowski, of Zion, Illinois, jumped into an icy South Dakota pond on April 26, 2007, and saved then 8-year-old Abby Bern’s life. Nearly one-year later, Abby was on hand as Filiczkowski was honoured as the 25th Goodyear North American Highway Hero. Filiczkowski was honoured in special ceremonies at last week’s Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville.

Filiczkowski and his wife, Janet, were driving a C.R. England rig along I-90 about 100 miles west of Sioux Falls when Janet saw a car cross four lanes of traffic and careen into a pond. She yelled for her husband, who was in the sleeper compartment. Filiczkowski quickly dressed, grabbed his shoes and ran a quarter-mile to the scene. “I dove right in because I saw Abby pounding on the car’s back window. My only instinct was to get her out of the car as soon as possible. In situations like that, seconds count,” Filiczkowski said.

Also inside the car and submerged in eight feet of water was Abby’s father. Rescuing the Worthington, Minnesota, child proved to be easier than pulling an unconscious Dr. Jeff Bern, a 42-year-old pediatrician and father of three, from the driver’s seat. He died at the scene. “I wish I was faster for him. My only regret, I just wish I was faster,” Richard said. (Tire Review/Akron)