Snowplow Driver Clears Path for Sick Baby's Ambulance Transport

Ohio DOT worker helps emergency team reach hospital during winter storm

Jan. 27, 2026 at 4:31pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A snowplow driver with the Ohio Department of Transportation helped clear snow-covered roads for an ambulance to transport a sick baby named Bryson to Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center during a severe winter storm. The transport team called ODOT for assistance after realizing the roads were nearly impassable, and the snowplow driver, Joe Estes, worked to clear miles of roadway so the ambulance could safely reach the hospital.

Why it matters

This story highlights the critical role that state transportation departments and their workers play in supporting emergency medical services, especially during extreme weather events that can make roads treacherous. The collaboration between ODOT and the hospital's transport team ensured a sick infant could receive the urgent care needed.

The details

Joe Estes, an ODOT snowplow driver, received a call 20 minutes into his Sunday shift requesting help for an ambulance transport. A baby boy named Bryson needed immediate transport to Cincinnati Children's Hospital, but the severe winter storm had made the roads nearly impassable. Estes cleared miles of roadway, allowing the transport team carrying Bryson to follow safely behind.

  • On Sunday, Estes received the call about the transport request 20 minutes into his shift.
  • The transport team called ODOT for assistance as they knew the roads would be impassable for the ambulance alone.

The players

Joe Estes

An Ohio Department of Transportation snowplow driver who cleared snow-covered roads to help an ambulance transport a sick baby to the hospital.

Bryson

A baby boy who needed immediate transport to Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center for a higher level of care.

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

The hospital that the sick baby was transported to for urgent medical care.

Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT)

The state transportation department that deployed snowplow driver Joe Estes to clear the roads for the emergency ambulance transport.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I got a phone call and they said, 'We've got a sick baby. We need to get there, but we're losing our window of time.'”

— Joe Estes, ODOT Snowplow Driver

“It's probably the most important trek of my ODOT career. It wasn't just pushing snow; it was getting this ambulance to this hospital safely and back.”

— Joe Estes, ODOT Snowplow Driver

“It was great. We had him [Estes] on the phone a couple times and he was like 'just tell me exactly what you guys need and where we're going.'”

— Respiratory Therapist

What’s next

The Ohio Department of Transportation said its drivers worked more than 30 hours over three days to make as many roadways passable as possible during the historic winter storm.

The takeaway

This story underscores the vital role that state transportation departments and their workers play in supporting emergency services, especially during extreme weather events. The collaboration between ODOT and the hospital's transport team ensured a sick infant could receive urgent medical care, highlighting the importance of public agencies working together to keep communities safe.