Friends and family regard the victim of the 100-car pile-up on I-94 as a hero. The man was hit by a car when he got out of his semi to help other drivers during a blizzard.
Lowell Balk died early Tuesday morning at Essentia Hospital. The 50-year-old was from Walcott, North Dakota. Witnesses and friends consider Balk to be very brave.
Highway Patrol officers say they recommend people stay in their vehicles in a situation like the pile up Lowell found himself in. But, after talking with people who knew him, he just couldn't stand the idea of doing nothing when he saw others in need.
That personality trait became even more evident in his last moments at Essentia Health.
There were uneasy times for the people at the I-94 pile. Lt. Bryan Niewind of the Highway Patrol says, "When you talk to the people that were out in the accidents, our troopers that were on scene say you couldn't even see to the end of your hood."
Maybe it was the ten years of truck driving that made Lowell more at home on the road, or just insatiable need to help out. "He wasn't involved in a crash himself. He had a cell phone and stuff with him and he was just trying to see if other people needed some help," Lt. Niewind says.
Lowell was checking on the drivers behind his rig, when another semi, highway patrol officers say was driving too fast for the conditions, struck him and hit 15 other vehicles before it came to a stop.
Niewind tells us, "I think he had just massive trauma from being struck by a large vehicle."
Paramedics were already on the scene. Lowell, who was seriously injured, was taken to Essentia Health, where he hung on for several days.
Lowell's heroism didn't end out on the highway. In his last act of life, he gave one of his organs. Friends of the family say he died about 1:00 Tuesday morning, after being taken off life support.
His son helped wave the donor flag over the hospital. In situations where many would have locked up in fear, Lowell found a way to keep barreling through and help those in need.
Lowell's funeral has been set for Friday at 11:00 a.m. at Walcott Lutheran church. A visitation is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Fredrickson Funeral Chapel in Kindred.
There were 4 other non-life threatening injuries that day.
Provided By:valleynewslive.com
Lowell Balk died early Tuesday morning at Essentia Hospital. The 50-year-old was from Walcott, North Dakota. Witnesses and friends consider Balk to be very brave.
Highway Patrol officers say they recommend people stay in their vehicles in a situation like the pile up Lowell found himself in. But, after talking with people who knew him, he just couldn't stand the idea of doing nothing when he saw others in need.
That personality trait became even more evident in his last moments at Essentia Health.
There were uneasy times for the people at the I-94 pile. Lt. Bryan Niewind of the Highway Patrol says, "When you talk to the people that were out in the accidents, our troopers that were on scene say you couldn't even see to the end of your hood."
Maybe it was the ten years of truck driving that made Lowell more at home on the road, or just insatiable need to help out. "He wasn't involved in a crash himself. He had a cell phone and stuff with him and he was just trying to see if other people needed some help," Lt. Niewind says.
Lowell was checking on the drivers behind his rig, when another semi, highway patrol officers say was driving too fast for the conditions, struck him and hit 15 other vehicles before it came to a stop.
Niewind tells us, "I think he had just massive trauma from being struck by a large vehicle."
Paramedics were already on the scene. Lowell, who was seriously injured, was taken to Essentia Health, where he hung on for several days.
Lowell's heroism didn't end out on the highway. In his last act of life, he gave one of his organs. Friends of the family say he died about 1:00 Tuesday morning, after being taken off life support.
His son helped wave the donor flag over the hospital. In situations where many would have locked up in fear, Lowell found a way to keep barreling through and help those in need.
Lowell's funeral has been set for Friday at 11:00 a.m. at Walcott Lutheran church. A visitation is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Fredrickson Funeral Chapel in Kindred.
There were 4 other non-life threatening injuries that day.
Provided By:valleynewslive.com
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