Letter: Do Unto Others . . .

This Letter to the Editor appears in the Aug. 22 print edition of Transport Topics. Click here to subscribe today.

Editor’s Note: The following letter was sent to a Midwestern trucking company by a grateful motorist who was helped out of a bad situation by one of its drivers. The second letter is from the company.

My name is Bill Stelter, and on Friday, Aug. 5, we were attempting to clear Minneapolis/St. Paul during evening rush hour. Nearing the off ramp of Interstate 94, the semi ahead of us lost a metal bracket and a mudflap. There was no evading the crash, and our rear tire immediately blew.

As I eased the SUV over toward the side, I was quickly running out of space nearing the on-ramp. As I came to a stop and got out, I noticed the semi behind us had stopped on the shoulder. He quickly put out safety triangles and came to talk to me. He asked me to back my SUV close to his rig for some shelter, as we were stranded on a narrow shoulder with a guardrail up against the car.

I was taking my 91-year-old mother north to visit her 94-year-old sister and had my wife along as well. We were heading into a setting sun.

The driver checked to see if we were OK and then proceeded to help us change the tire. We had to empty the SUV, crawl under the rear to get the spare, work with a marginal jack and endure rush-hour traffic whizzing by us 12 inches away.

The driver did most of the heavy work and exposed himself to the most danger from traffic, as the flat was on the left rear tire.

A Minnesota trooper stopped to see if we were OK, but he had to go on, as there was an accident a few hundred yards away.

I am embarrassed to say I never asked the driver his name. He didn’t need to stop, and he didn’t need to do as much of the work as he did.

We hear all the time about “Good Samaritans” being killed helping someone, and he certainly was in danger. His boots were inches from the painted line of the highway, and while I tried to get trucks and cars to slow down and move over, it was largely unsuccessful. He deserves some recognition and our thanks.

I would like to know his name so I can write a formal letter to the owner of M.W. Trucking. I believe he was on his way to Kamloops. I was so distressed that I don’t think I thanked him enough. I would like his employer to know that my mother and wife think that he is an “angel” who appeared in the middle of a terrible situation, fixed everything, and went quietly on his way. I feel the same way.

Bill Stelter

Lemont, Ill.

Attached is a letter from a disabled motorist one of my drivers assisted during rush-hour traffic in Minneapolis/St. Paul. It is really nice to receive acknowledgement on something good that I know my drivers — and also other carriers’ drivers — do on a regular basis. Would you please consider printing this letter? I enjoy reading your newspaper and find the occasional letters telling of “Good Samaritan” acts most interesting.

I am glad our driver, Lynn Deboer, was able and willing to assist in a very dangerous situation. I always have been one to help out anyone in need on the highway, and I encourage my drivers to do so as well. Over the past 36 years in business there have been so many times I have been helped by other drivers, both truck and automobile, that I can’t possibly drive past someone in need. It’s not every day that a trucking company receives a “thank you” for something that used to be commonplace. It is in our culture to help as we have been helped.

And I know what Mr. Stelter means about stories of people being killed on the highway helping out troubled vehicles. Back in December of 2010, during a bad storm in Minnesota, I was trying to help a stranded vehicle and was struck by another vehicle. I suffered a broken leg that has yet to heal.

On Sunday, Aug. 7 — two days later — Lynn Deboer’s truck broke down out in the middle of nowhere with a fuel-line leak. He called me and told me of his trouble and said he thought it was his punishment for a good deed done. He laughed and went on to fix the problem handily.

I will be commending Lynn. We also have a company policy that when an employee receives a compliment for whatever reason, the employee receives a free meal complete with dessert.

One of my favorite movies is “Pay It Forward.” Hopefully, we will have many opportunities to pay it.

Mark Washatka

Co-Owner

M.W. Trucking Inc.

Kaukauna, Wis.