HÀ NỘI — Truck driver Phan Văn Bắc, 30, of Central Highlands’ Lâm Đồng Province has been awarded the “Golden Wheel” title this year.

The truck driver risked his own life to save the lives of 30 passengers travelling on a coach through Bảo Lộc Pass on Tuesday afternoon.

The title was awarded to Bắc this morning following a decision made by Deputy Prime Minister Trương Hòa Bình, also chairman of the National Committee for Traffic Safety.

The committee said that according to a report from the provincial Committee for Traffic Safety, at 2:30pm on Tuesday, Bắc was driving a truck belonging to the Đức Trọng Transport Co-operative from the province’s Bảo Lộc City to HCM City, when he realised that the coach travelling behind him appeared to be losing control. He decided to drive his truck in such a manner that the bottom of his truck covered the top of the coach and stopped it from losing control on the 500m sloping road of the Bảo Lôc Pass.

Bắc told the Giao thông online newspaper that, at first, he thought the coach was over-speeding, but when he saw the coach’s passengers waving at him through his truck’s mirrors, as a signal for help, he realised the coach was in trouble. Bắc used his truck to cover the top of the coach; he had to apply his brakes very hard to ensure both vehicles did not lose control.

When both the truck and the coach finally stopped at the foot of the pass, the coach driver and all the passengers gave him massive hugs, he said.

“I know it was very dangerous, but I could not ignore them,” he added.

Meanwhile, the coach driver told the Giao thông (Transport) online newspaper “I don’t know what would have happened if Bắc had not helped us. Big thanks to him.”

The bottom of the truck and the top of the coach were damaged in the incident.

Also this morning, Minister of Transport Trương Quang Nghĩa sent a letter praising Bắc for his bravery.

The minister thanked Bắc, saying his selfless act had prevented a tragic accident that could have led to lives being lost.

Nghĩa said Bắc had set a fine example of bravery for drivers and road users across the country.

The Ministry of Transport and the National Committee for Traffic Safety also recommended to the Prime Minister to present Bắc a certificate for bravery. — VNS