HAY RIVER - A trucker working out of Hay River has been honoured as a hero with a prestigious national award.

Hay River's Robert O'Brien, right, received the Bridgestone Canadian Truck Hero Award from Jim West, a representative of Bridgestone Canada, in Toronto on Nov. 19 during the annual meeting of the Ontario Trucking Association. - photo courtesy of Bridgestone Canada

On Nov. 19 in Toronto, Robert O'Brien was presented with the Bridgestone Canadian Truck Hero Award for helping to rescue victims – particularly an infant girl – following a rollover north of Enterprise in 2008.

The award recognizes a Canadian professional truck driver who demonstrates courage, quick thinking and integrity in the face of emergency.

O'Brien said he is honoured to receive the award, although he added, "I don't consider myself a hero."

In fact, he said, as a truck driver, he often helps people on the road.

"But this was the first time I had to help someone with a baby," he said.

On Feb. 14, 2008, O'Brien was heading north with a load of fuel when he came upon a pickup truck that had hit black ice and rolled several times about 40 km north of Enterprise.

The driver – Shawna Howard, then a resident of Hay River – was standing outside the vehicle holding one of her twin infants, and her hands were already numb from digging through snow in the -30 C temperature.

O'Brien said Howard passed the infant to a propane truck driver who had also stopped at the scene.

"She hollered out there was another baby in the truck," he said.

O'Brien recalled the pickup was upright and covered in snow and broken glass when he started to dig through the smashed back window for the other six-month-old child.

"I couldn't even find her," he said. "She was covered in snow completely."

However, he did find the baby still secured in a child car seat.

"Once I got her uncovered, she started to screech," he said.

O'Brien wrapped both babies in blankets and put them in the bunk of his heated transport truck to get them out of the cold. Howard and her twins – Austin and Amber – all survived the harrowing experience.

In fact, in March of this year, they were among members of two families who became the first inductees into the NWT Survivors Club.

Howard was recognized for having her children properly secured in child car seats at the time of the accident.

The 56-year-old O'Brien, who works for the Calgary-based ECL Transportation, has been operating out of Hay River for nearly four years.

He works in Hay River part of the year, and is also a resident of the Newfoundland town of Cape Broyle, where he has a house and his family still lives.

On behalf of Hay River, Mayor Kelly Schofield expressed congratulations to O'Brien.

"We have a great sense of pride for having Mr. O'Brien in our community," Schofield said.

The mayor said the trucker's actions show Hay River residents care about one another.

O'Brien received the hero's award at the annual meeting of the Ontario Trucking Association, which supports the award with the Canada Safety Council and the Canadian Trucking Alliance.

The award includes a $3,000 cheque to the winner from Bridgestone Canada Inc., along with a trophy.

A $3,000 donation will also be made to a charity of O'Brien's choice.

The winner also receives a trip for two to Toronto for the awards presentation, as does the owner of the trucking company employing the recipient.

"Truck drivers are often unsung heroes," said Jim West, general manager of commercial products with Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions, while presenting the award. "Our company has been honouring heroes like Mr. O'Brien since 1956. It takes an extraordinary person to do what he did, and we're proud to present him with this award."