Gov. Roy Cooper presented the Governor’s Award for Excellence to five N.C. Department of Transportation employees and a state trooper for their life-saving actions during Hurricane Helene on Interstate 40. The ceremony, held last Wednesday at the State Archives of North Carolina, recognized their quick response as the storm damaged the roadway, according to the North Carolina Department of Transportation.
On September 28, 2024, heavy rain caused the Pigeon River to rise and sections of I-40 near the Pigeon River Gorge to collapse. The honored team — Scottie Coggins, David Hall, Sgt. Joe Henderson, Garett McFalls, Austin Phillips, and Christopher Strader — rerouted traffic and helped protect stranded motorists, as reported by the North Carolina Department of Transportation.
Sgt. Henderson and Strader directed eastbound traffic toward the median, and McFalls saw that some drivers had already opened a metal barrier gate to let vehicles through. Coggins, Hall, and Phillips widened the opening so tractor-trailers could cross to the westbound side. “They went above and beyond to serve in the line of duty, to protect the public, to act as heroes," said Chris Lee, NCDOT’s deputy division engineer, who noted that their actions helped everyone exit the area safely. Their work drew statewide attention in November, and a video tribute was shown at the awards ceremony, where Lee added, “They saved the day and we’re so proud of them,” as mentioned by the North Carolina Department of Transportation.
