James Hill a Texas-based driver for Prime Inc. recently received the State of North Carolina Certificate of Appreciation Award for his role in saving the life of a North Carolina State Trooper in November of last year. As Trooper Chris Horniak made a traffic stop on Interstate 95 the driver got out of his vehicle and fired multiple shots at Horniak with a .45 caliber handgun. Traveling in the opposite direction was James Hill who witnessed the shooting and immediately acted to distract the gunman. Hill blew his air horn as he pulled his tractor-trailer off the road causing Horniak?s attacker to flee. Seeing the officer badly wounded Hill made his way across the Interstate to his aid. At the scene Hill called for backup and provided a description of the driver and his vehicle to local police. Within minutes an ambulance arrived for Trooper Horniak and the gunman was arrested.

For his bravery Hill was also nominated as a Truckload Carriers Association Highway Angel and declared a North Carolina State Honorary Highway Patrolman.