A truck driver was pulled over for speeding in Indiana on Monday after receiving some of the worst news of his life -- but instead of getting a ticket, he got something else: A prayer.
Rodney Gibson, 60, had just found out that his daughter was losing a battle with breast cancer.
He admitted to the Bloomington Herald-Times that he was a little contentious with Indiana State Police Sgt. Todd Durnil, who pulled him over in Bloomington and proceeded to inspect the vehicle.
That's when the officer asked Gibson about the angel pin he saw tucked into the truck's visor -- the same one he keeps in his cruiser.
Durnil told ABC News that Gibson said "with tears in his eyes" that his daughter gave him the pin, to help keep him safe as he drove, and then shared the grim news about her cancer diagnosis.
The police officer told the network that he planned to ask his family and church to pray for Gibson, and he didn't issue a ticket or even a warning.
"He still seemed agitated, but not as bad, and he apologized, saying, 'I'm sorry, I usually don't act this way, I've just been going through a lot,'" Durnil told ABC.
So he asked the trucker if there was anything else he could do.
"I sarcastically asked him if he knew how to pray," Gibson told the Herald-Times. "It was about my daughter at this point."
Sarcastic or not, Durnil was ready to oblige.
"Here I was thinking this man needs prayer, and now he's asking me for a prayer," Durnil told ABC News. "The good Lord put us together for a purpose."
"He reached for my hand, and this man sent up a prayer, for my daughter and for my family, that sent chills all over my body," Gibson told the Herald-Times. "I will never, ever forget this, nor will my family."
Gibson called the trooper's station the next day to let them know he was grateful for the kind gesture, the Indy Channel reported.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story stated that the driver was pulled over in Indianapolis. He was pulled over in Bloomington.
The Most Heartwarming Thank You Notes To The Police
For Brookline, Mass. Police In The Wake Of The Boston Marathon Bombings(01 of07)
Open Image ModalIn the aftermath of April's Boston Marathon bombings, elementary students at the Lincoln School in Brookline, Mass., reached out to local law enforcement to thank them for the incredible job they'd done protecting their city. (credit:Facebook/Brookline MA Police Department)
For Brookline, Mass. Police In The Wake Of The Boston Marathon Bombings(02 of07)
Open Image ModalIn the aftermath of April's Boston Marathon bombings, elementary students at the Lincoln School in Brookline, Mass., reached out to local law enforcement to thank them for the incredible job they'd done protecting their city. (credit:Facebook/Brookline MA Police Department)
For A San Angelo, Texas Patrol Supervisor(03 of07)
Open Image ModalIn San Angelo, Texas, an anonymous citizen left a note on a Patrol Supervisor's windshield, and the police department posted it on Facebook asking others to share it in an attempt to find the thankful party. (credit:Facebook/City of San Angelo Police Department)
For The Newtown, Conn. Police Department(04 of07)
Open Image ModalWhen a flood of support came in for the victims of last December's school shooting in Newtown, Conn., volunteers stepped up and spent hours responding to the more than 175,000 letters and cards with handwritten thank yous. (credit:AP)
For An Oxnard, Calif. Police Officer(05 of07)
Open Image ModalWhen a little girl's Minnie Mouse bike in Oxnard, Calif., was reported stolen, Officer Michael Kohr showed up the very next day with a brand new one. The girl's mother posted a photo on Facebook of the two together, along with this cheerful thank you:"Yesterday morning on my way to take my daughter Bella on a bike ride, to our dismay we realized her cherished Minnie Mouse bike that Santa brought her had been stolen, along with our jogging stroller... This afternoon I received a call from Officer Kohr that he was on his way with a brand new Princess bike. He not only surprised her with a bike that is her favorite color featuring her favorite princess he took the time to teach her how to ride it. This is kindness and selflessness at its finest. This officer went well above his call of duty and took the time to make a little girls day. I can not fully express how grateful I am. He has left such an impression in our hearts, and am thoroughly impressed with his generosity. Thank you once again Officer Kohr." (credit:Facebook/Nina Sanchez)
For The Cleveland Police's Second District(06 of07)
Open Image ModalCleveland Police's Second District used Facebook to share kidnap victim Michelle Knight's touching thank you note."Little treasures like this mean a great deal to some of us that have been involved with these young women," read the post. (credit:Facebook/Second District Community Relations Committee)
For A Philadelphia Police Department Sargeant(07 of07)
Open Image ModalOne of the most well-known thank you's to police came from Martin Luther King Jr. in 1965, who reached out to the officer assigned to protect him in Philadelphia, Sgt. James Adair. AP reported that the letter went up for sale in April for $10,500. (credit:AP)
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