I was on a fishing trip, last week in northern california. we got a late start home on sunday and were about 2 hours away from home when we saw a family stranded on the side of the road. The engine was engulfed in flames, the two daughters and mother losing their minds on the side of the road and the dad scrambling to get their belongings out of the car. It was myself, my dad, my uncle and my best friend. we slammed the brakes, flipped a u turn on the highway and were out of the car before it stopped moving. the guy was struggling to untie a giant bag on top of the car. my dad tossed me his knife and I started hacking at the straps. the car was already hot at the back, the fire moving from the engine compartment to the interior. me and my buddy just strated grabbing stuff and hauling it away from the vehicle. we picked up the toungue of the trailer and ran it back about 30 feet. The tires started blowing up, windows blew out. nothing we could do, we started directing traffic, we were out there for 45 minutes before the fire department showed up with no signs of the highway patrol. they showed up right as the fire started moving through the desert brush, seriously in the nick of time. we helped them save all their stuff.

the saddest thing... not a single person stopped to help before that. the guy was obviously in need of some serious help, engine clearly up in flames. another van stopped to help direct traffic.

even before we stopped, people were slowing down to watch, but wouldnt stop to help. It makes me sick to my stomach that peopl cant be bothered to stop and help anymore. It scared the crap out of me, the damn thing couldve easily blown up and hurt or killed us, but it coulve hurt them as well.

 

good on you. i stop to help people when i can (flat tires, overheating and such) but i i saw something like that i dont care where i was going or how late i thought i was i would stop. it always makes me feel good to be able to help people i dont know.

 

great thing you did, i would have the same. i hate seeing an elderly broke down, and people not stopping.. the world has really went to crap, no more common courtesy and helping your fellow man

 

I think people are too worried nowadays for being sued or liable if they go to help and something goes wrong.

 

if someone sued me for trying to help them, I would light their goddamn
house on fire, thats just rediculous.

on a serious not, I have not stopped on occasion because it looked sketchy. Couple of dudes, late at night etc.

 

Nice job man

 

i pick and choose who i stop and help....not on race or something terrible like that, but if its an elderly person then i without a doubt will help them. if it was a car fire like that i would stop anyways because there's no faking that, but if its some guy changing a tire that looks like some gangster from the hood no way im gonna stop and help him....whos to say hes not gonna try and rob me and steal my truck? a guy in my family stopped to help a guy who he though was changing a tire, but ended up just faking it, and the guy pulls a gun on him, takes everything he has on him, and takes his phone and his keys so he cant call for help or go get the police....

perfect type of post for post 666 lmao

 

Good on ya Man! I would have done the same. I hate seeing people that need help and no one helps. I stop whenever it is needed. Elderly people are always grateful, it is the very young that you have to be worried about IMO.

 

Nice job. I also like to help out when I can. I've witnessed a few one car wrecks (where they lose control and spin off the road) and by the time I take to exit ramp and make a u-turn and get over there no a single person has stopped. Most just dont care.

Its like those two paramedics who were on break in a coffee shop, and a preggo mother was in distress. SHe begged them to help her, but they said "call an ambulance" they were on break.

The mother ended up dying right there. I cant remember if the baby survived or not.

Well, one of the paramedics was gunned down at a nightclub a few weeks ago. Just goes to show what comes around goes around. I'm a big believer in Karma.

Also a lot of people are afraid of the danger of stopping on the road to help. Several times I've heard news stories where a young man is changing a tire for an old lady and then is ran over by some drunk or just someone not paying attention.

As for people worried about getting sued.....I doubt that crosses most peoples minds. No offense but that sounds like a northern mindset to me.

 

Well that's good that you guys stopped. In a situation where there is flames coming out of the car yes I would stop to. I wouldn't stop for anything else, I'm sorry I don't feel like either 1. like hirdlej said getting sued or 2. getting my chest filled with hot lead and my head getting blown off...