A truck driver who was struggling to cope with his daughter’s breast cancer diagnosis had a remarkable encounter with a police officer last week.
Indiana State Police Sgt. Todd Durnill initially stopped the 2016 Freightliner for speeding on SR 37 in Bloomington, Indiana.
When he walked to the the truck, Sgt. Durnhill noticed that the driver, Rodney Gibson, was visibly distraught.
Durnhill quickly realized that it had nothing to do with traffic stop and that there was “something else going on.”
At first, Gibson refused to share his situation with the officer, but Durnhill was determined to get through to him.
The officer then asked the driver about an angel pin on his sun visor.
That’s when truck driver Rodney Gibson broke down and explained that the pin was from daughter, who was struggling with breast cancer. He said the cancer had recently gotten worse, and she wasn’t likely to make it.
Sgt. Durnhill told reporters that the first thing that came to his mind was that Gibson needed prayers. He said he planned to tell his family and church to pray for the driver.
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“I also thought, this man already has enough, I’m not going to write him any paperwork for a ticket or even a warning,” he said.
“When I walked back to his truck, I explained everything. He still seemed agitated, but not as bad, and he apologized, saying, ‘I’m sorry, I usually don’t act this way, I’ve just been going through a lot.'”
The officer then asked Gibson if there was anything he could do for him. Gibson had one request.
“Do you know how to pray?” the driver asked.
“Here I was thinking this man needs prayer, and now he’s asking me for a prayer,” Durnil said. “The good Lord put us together for a purpose.”
The officer took his hat off, walked to the right side of the truck, took Gibson’s hand and prayed. They both had tears in their eyes.
The next day, Gibson contact the police office to share his thanks for Sgt. Durnhil’s kindness. The two exchanged information, and vowed to stay in touch in the future.