Teen Rides Horse Miles Through Snowstorm To Reach Stranded Truck Driver Spotted On Traffic Cam With Coffee And Dinner

Apr 03, 2020 by apost team

In the thick of a fierce blizzard, one 18-year-old Manitoba teen, Eileen Eagle Bears, rode her horse nearly 10 km through a snowstorm just to bring coffee and dinner to a stranded truck driver in 2017. The driver had been stuck on Highway 10 before the teen and her horse came to his aid.

Known for its fierce winters and polar bear population, no one wants to be stuck on a Manitoba highway for more than a few hours — let alone 28. So when Eileen saw the stranded truck driver on a Monday night while monitoring highway traffic cams with her mom, Heather Eagle Bears, around five kilometers away from their home — near the town of Minto — the 18-year-old decided to help, according to CBC. 

The next morning, the truck was still there, so Eileen filled a thermos up with coffee, saddled up and rode her horse, Mr. Smudge, through the snowstorm to greet the stranded truck driver.

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"There was a lot of ice on the road from the rain that we had got and drifts were bad in a few places. But the morning wasn't too bad to get there and come back," Eileen told CBC. "But I had gotten to the truck and I had to wake him up because he was sleeping, and he was pretty surprised to see me there with the coffee."

Eileen said that the driver — who clearly had not had much human contact lately, let alone a nice hot dinner — was grateful for the delivery, and Eileen made sure to promise that if he wanted her to bring by some food and more coffee later in the day. The trucker understandably agreed, so when it was dinner time, Eileen came by again.

"He was just really glad that someone knew that he was there and that someone cared," Eileen told CBC.

After dropping off dinner later that evening, the truck driver was finally able to move on that Tuesday night. Since Eileen’s mother posted on Facebook detailing her daughter’s heroic act, folks from across the world have thanked her for her bravery. The post has nearly 2,000 shares and hundreds of grateful comments.

"It is overwhelming," Eileen said. "I had gotten back and my mom had posted just a post on Facebook. And there was a few likes at the beginning, but we went back and there was just more and more, and it just totally blew up."

According to the Living In Canada website, winters in Manitoba are “very cold and occasionally rather brutal.”  Not only does it have a windy climate due to its prairie location and arctic winds, but it also gets a lot of snow, especially compared to other parts of Canada like vancouver. “The combination of very low temperatures and high windspeed is dangerous – and can be life threatening,” writes the Living In Canada web page.

That’s why Eileen’s courageous and selfless act was particularly important. In the dead of winter, she made sure to reach out to a stranger in need.

What do you think about Eileen Eagle Bears's heroic act? Would you have done the same? Let us know and pass this inspiring story on to friends and family members.