Snowplow Driver Becomes A Hero By Escorting Ambulance To Children’s Hospital

January 28, 2026

As a powerful winter storm turned roads into a snow-covered hazard, one snowplow driver stepped up in a big way—helping an ambulance safely deliver a child to critical care.

Joe Estes escorts the ambulance

According to WCPO 9, treacherous road conditions in Cincinnati made travel extremely dangerous. Snow-covered streets and brutal cold threatened to delay an ambulance transporting a baby boy named Bryson to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, where he needed a higher level of care.

That’s when Ohio Department of Transportation snowplow driver Joe Estes was called in.

“I've been here for three years, this is the first time we've had to think outside the box,” said Kelly Besl, the clinical director of Cincinnati Children's Critical Care Transport Team.

Estes was asked to escort the ambulance and clear a safe path through the storm.

Driving carefully and steadily, he plowed snow-covered roads with the ambulance following closely behind. The trip, which would normally take about 15 minutes, stretched to nearly half an hour due to the conditions—but thanks to Estes’ careful driving, the ambulance arrived safely.

“It was probably the most important trek of my ODOT career,” Estes said. “It wasn’t just pushing snow.”

With more than seven years of experience as a snowplow driver, Estes said he had never done anything like it before. As a father himself, the emotional weight of the journey hit him once they reached the hospital.

The ambulance crew said the situation was nerve-racking at first, but the moment they saw Estes leading the way, they felt a sense of relief. His presence made all the difference as they focused on keeping the baby safe and warm during transport.

Both Bryson and his parents were later reported to be doing well.

Despite the praise, Estes remained humble about his role.

“I am thrilled to have taken a role in this operation,” he said. “By no means am I the hero. I'm just a truck driver, and I absolutely hope everything works out for the best.”

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