A truck driver who bravely rescued a bus with brake problems on its way down a mountain pass in the Central Highlands earlier this month was awarded the Merit of Bravery on Wednesday.

The reward was given to honor the driver, Phan Van Bac, from Da Huoai District by Doan Van Viet, chairman of the People’s Committee in Lam Dong Province, on behalf of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

“It is a great honor to receive such a prestigious award from the government. I commit myself to using this as great motivation for me to be a responsible and virtuous driver,” Bac said in the awards ceremony.

On September 6, a 42-seat passenger bus operated by travel firm Tan Ha was traveling from Bao Loc City down the Bao Loc Pass when its brakes malfunctioned.

Noticing that the driver of the bus behind him seemed to lose control of the vehicle, Bac reduced his speed and let the vehicle cling to his truck’s back to slow it down.

The two vehicles safely descended the pass before coming to a stop on a flat section of the road. The front part of the bus was severely damaged and the truck’s back was dented after the incident.

Thanks to his heroic action, the passengers and driver on the bus, more than 30 lives, were able to leave the scene safe and sound.

For his courage, Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper awarded Bac VND7 million (US$313).

He was later awarded a Golden Trophy by the National Board for Traffic Safety and offered a VND450 million ($20,169) cab as a gift by Mai Linh Group, a Vietnamese taxi operator.

The 30-year-old driver also received praise from the prime minister and the minister of transport.

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