"I guess there are still some good people in the world"
My husband and I were driving home from work (sometimes it feels like we're the only carpoolers in West Virginia) when we witnessed a crash on I-79 near Fairmont, WV. We pulled into the median and I hopped out and switched into EMT mode to check on the occupants of one of the vehicles. The airbags had deployed and fluids from the vehicle were leaking onto the road. Aside from some cuts and a bloody nose the sole occupant was fine. But she was a college student halfway home for Thanksgiving break, now with an undriveable vehicle but not an insignificant amount of stuff.
After EMS checked her out and she was able to make an informed refusal to go to the hospital, I offered to drive her and her stuff somewhere to rendezvous with her parents. She took a leap of faith getting into a car with two strangers, but she was headed north and so were we. I can't imagine what her mother thought when she told them she was going to ride up with us.
When we did met up, her dad said, "I guess there are still some good people in the world."
Three takeaways:
We all have many choices in this world, always choose to be one of the "good people".
No matter who you are, keep some basic first aid gear in your car. You don't need a jump kit, but some band-aids, things to clean and dress a wound, and gloves.
Don't hoard stuff in your car, you never know when you'll need to use your entire trunk.
A few weeks later I was surprised to receive a package from the crash victim. I will treasure the card enclosed forever.
Dear Janet + Chris,
My family and I want to thank you for coming to my rescue on I-79. I was so scared… it was my first accident ever… and there you were! You comforted me, tried to make me feel better, and kept me safe till my mom + dad could get to me — I will never forget your kindness! Some day I hope to pay it forward! May God Bless you both. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!!