Sometimes, trucking freight can be monotonous, with long hours and little company. But, then there are those random eventful days on the road that bring experiences you could never imagine. Halloween 2011 was one of those days for long-haul driver Mike Schiotis.

While driving through Pennsylvania on Interstate 380, Schiotis saw two cars stopped on the side of the road, whom he’d assumed were involved in a simple accident — until he noticed a woman waving her arms in the air followed by a man with a gun. Schiotis pulled over and stopped his rig, trying to rescue the screaming woman as the attacker beat her in the head with his gun. 

Demonstrating heroic, action movie-like behavior, Schiotis put himself in the middle of the assault and rescued the victim, despite her assailant’s repeated attempts to shoot and hit her. Together, Schiotis and the woman climbed in his truck and fled. 

Schiotis called 911 and pulled off at a truck stop to wait for police — until he noticed the assailant’s black car following him. Thinking quickly, he returned to the highway and used his CB radio to warn other truckers of the reason for his erratic driving. Schiotis then focused his efforts on eluding the assailant and his gun, while an anonymous driver from Dupre Transport helped block the other lane.

Their heroic efforts worked. 

Troopers eventually caught up with the truckers before further harm occurred and arrested the attacker. The cause for this horrific event? Turns out, the woman was the assailant’s ex-girlfriend, and she had just informed him she was pregnant with his child. His answer to the situation was to murder her and kill himself. Fortunately, his gun jammed when pulling the trigger at her head — and Schiotis was there to rescue her. He attributes his limited truck freight — which he was originally frustrated by — as the reason for his ability to dodge the assailant’s car.

Although we at Getloaded always hope drivers find the loads they need, we can’t help but feel thankful Schiotis was traveling lightly that afternoon — and applaud his and the Dupre trucker’s incredible courage and foresight.