Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska (BCBSNE) employee Trevor Hagedorn was meeting a friend for breakfast on an icy Saturday morning when he came across the scene of an accident on Interstate 80.
“I saw cars in front of me starting to slow down and wasn’t really sure what happened,” Hagedorn said. “Then, I saw them on the side of the road.”
Carrie and Randy Hutson were driving home to Iowa after picking up their son, Brian, from Colorado. The family was traveling for over 24 hours when they hit an icy patch of road and totaled their vehicle in an accident.
Hagedorn knew he had to stop and help the family as he saw them scramble out of their vehicle.
“I realized the accident had just happened, it was cold and no other vehicles were stopping to help,’” Hagedorn said.
After making sure the family was okay, Hagedorn waited with the Hutsons inside his car for help to arrive.
“The thought that was going through my mind the most was that they were from out of town and if I left, they would be stranded with nowhere to go and nobody to help them,” Hagedorn said. “My instincts and convictions made me want to stay there and not leave them stranded in the cold. I just couldn’t not stay.”
Randy said Hagedorn’s decision to stay with his family even after help arrived was “the amazing part.”
“This kid had so many chances to leave once the cops and EMTs showed up,” Randy said, “but he didn’t.”
In fact, Hagedorn even offered to drive the family to pick up their rental car and guided them back along the interstate to their totaled car. He helped them transfer their belongings and get back on the road.
“It was like my own son was standing there helping me,” Randy said.
“You have a great guy there working for you,” Carrie said.
Hagedorn had an experience similar to the Hutsons several years ago. He totaled his own vehicle on the interstate while on his way to Lincoln in winter weather.
“I was still sitting there in the cold for a few minutes, so I knew what that felt like and just to have people driving past and not paying attention to it whatsoever and how that felt,” Hagedorn said. “I didn’t want to let them sit through that same situation.”
Hagedorn said he doesn’t feel recognition is necessary for his actions but hopes others will stop and help someone on the road when needed.
“I believe we have all been given countless blessings through the grace of God, those around us and from many we have never even met,” Hagedorn said. “It brings me a ton of joy when I’m given opportunities like this to afford those blessings back to others.”
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