Last year, AEP Ohio employees drove more than 14 million miles. During that time, they encountered many hazards: distracted drivers, wild animals, pedestrians and even children playing in the street.
That final issue happens more often than you might think. Last year, Lucasville Meter Specialist Kevin Sloas saved a 5-year-old from the middle of the road. In 2021, Marietta Meter Specialist Brad Furr pulled a baby from the road.
For the third time, the AEP Ohio State Committee is honoring an employee for preventing what could have been a tragic event. This time, South Point Meter Specialist Ken Barcus is being recognized for stopping traffic when a toddler ran into the street.
Barcus was heading home at the end of the day along State Route 141 in Ironton. He entered a school zone, and though the reduced speed requirement had ended earlier that day, Barcus reduced his speed anyway, knowing there might still be kids around and congested traffic from parents picking up their children.
It’s a good thing he did. Approaching a curve in the road, Barcus spotted a diaper-wearing child darting out from inside a smaller trailer next to the school and running into the road.
“I think I was going 35 miles per hour, maybe. It’s a good thing I had slowed down because if I was going the speed limit, it might have been a different story,” he said.
Barcus came to a stop on the two-lane road. He turned on his hazard lights, swung the driver's side door open as another visible signal, and got out to stop the oncoming traffic in the other direction.
At that moment, a man came dashing out of the trailer.
"He was going full blast,” Barcus said.
The man grabbed the little boy by the hand and tried to escort him back inside. The child seemed to enjoy the chase because, smiling, he broke free and tried to run away again.
Barcus celebrated 26 years with AEP Ohio last month. He attributes his safe driving to the Smith5Keys system, which teaches students always to look far ahead and continually scan their surroundings, among other techniques.
“It has changed my driving skills completely,” Barcus said. “Even at home, I’ll tell my kids and my wife about it and remind them to pull through and not back in when parking.”
Barcus and his fellow meter specialists' example is an important reminder to remain focused while driving.