(Tampa, Fla.) - Owner Operator for Quality Carriers, Oscar Davila, found himself in the unexpected role of hero after rescuing a kidnapped 11-year-old child on August 18.

 "On that day, around 6:15 a.m., I was driving on Route 6 and 11 west in Pennsylvania, when I saw this little girl walking alone in the dark," says Davila.  "As I was getting closer I noticed that she was very young and I thought she should not be out here alone."

What caught Davila's attention was that she was limping and was wearing only one shoe.  This incongruity was enough to make him decide to pull over and see how he could help.

"She looked troubled," he said.  "When I pulled over to see what happened, she approached me and told me 'I need help because I was kidnapped."

As startling as that information was, Davila called 9-1-1 and reported the incident to the police.  "She said she was taken by two men wearing black masks and she had heard one of them say the other's name," he says.  "They had dumped her in the woods and she walked to the road."

 It took 35 minutes for the two police cruisers to arrive and Davila called to the girl's parents while they waited.   "Her parents arrived first.  Her mother was crying and her father thanked me over and over," he said. 

Davila and the family waited for the police to arrive to give a full report.  According to the girl, she was taken from her home in the early hours of that morning, possibly after she had taken the cat outside. 

The case is still under investigation.

Over the weeks since her abduction, the girl is slowly recovering her sense of security.  Davila has kept in contact with the family. "I have just wanted to make sure she was okay," he said.  "She was very sweet; she looked like a little angel walking along the road.  I was appalled at how many cars were just driving by her with no one attempting to stop and help."

            Pat French, Manager of Driver Services at Quality Carriers, has praised Davila for his intervention.  "We're very proud to have people like Oscar associated with Quality Carriers,"  he says.  "His sense of responsibility and care for others is truly admirable."

For more information on how you can help recover missing children, please visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.missingkids.com.