Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/696225
Spotlight telling him he was safe, he was in a major accident and the paramedics were on the way," Baker says. The man was moaning and began gagging at one point. Baker rolled him on his side so his airway would clear, and he began breathing steadily again. While the minivan driver was more lucid at some times than others, Baker says he didn't fully gain consciousness at the accident site. Still, Baker says he stayed by his side and held his hand, even after police and paramedics arrived 15 or 20 minutes after he happened on the scene. Thanks to Baker and Livow, the man suffered no significant injuries. After the incident, Cowan Systems honored Baker with a Knight of the Road award, which recognizes driv- ers for performing above and beyond expectations. In May 2016, the East Brunswick Department of Public Safety presented Baker and Livow with the East Brunswick Civilian Service Award, noting their quick actions and disregard for their own personal safety directly prevented another person's injury. Baker, a truck driver for more than 20 years, has no training as a first responder and hasn't had experience with other rescues. Because his mother was a home-health-care nurse, he says he knew how to check for a pulse and knew to turn the man on his side when he choked. Baker says he told his daughter "no" when she asked him if he thought about the possibility of the minivan exploding. "In my head, someone could have been seri- ously hurt," he says. He told his daughter: "'What if this happened to me or your mother? If I got into an accident, I hope some- one would help me.'" Since the vehicle was a minivan, Baker says he thought there might be kids inside or a person with a family. "My family means everything to me," he says. "If I can get someone back to their son or daughter or wife, I did a good thing." Ehlen says Baker is devoted to both his career and his loved ones. His fam- ily includes his wife, Nancy, their two children, Elizabeth, 20, and Joseph, 17, and his stepdaughter, Samantha, 23. Joseph, who goes by "Joey," has ADHD and autism. "[Baker is] one of my most dedicated drivers," Ehlen says. "He's committed to his job, but he also works hard to strike a balance between work and family. I really don't have anybody better than him." The feeling is mutual. "Cowan is a great company," Baker says. "They've treated me well, and I give them every- thing I've got." A self-described Army brat, Baker says working with big trucks was his dream. "I've always been fascinated by 20 July 2016 BestDriverJOBS www.bestdriverjobs.com Copy of East Brunswick Civilian Award