Found myself in a situation yesterday

Glad you were there for that girl. You have possibly exibited the kindest gesture she has ever received. I appreciate your actions!
 
You were at the right place at the right time.

You may never know why the other 5 cars didn't stop. Perhaps they didn't see what was going on and they were just passing someone who was just bumming about in the cold. Or maybe they did see you and were afraid that something bad was going to happen (which may of happened) and did not want to get involved or didn't want to get hurt from any con/scam or car jacking. It is possible they just didn't give a darn.

You showed that not everyone thinks the same. Well done!!

Guyon said:
Once stood by an interstate for an hour waiting for a tow truck. Broken serpentine belt. 95 degree heat. We had a small baby in our arms. Luckily, we were near an overpass and had some shade. We are nice looking people, and our vehicle was well kept. Not a single person stopped to offer help. Not one.
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I feel for you! I was hiking in Death Valley, it was hot and dry as hell there, (don't ask me why - I know it wasn't the smartest thing to do) and got stuck at a camp site which had the only water source for miles around. It would of taken me days to walk about of there and if I did I would of had to of carried about 4 gallons of water for days on end. Not very practical for a single hiker and I didn't have the water containers for that volume. So I decided to try to hitch a ride out. I tried all morning to get a ride and about 15 to 20 cars drove by me. Many of them just looked straight down the road and ignored me or pretended to not see me. They could all see me because I was just about in the middle of the road to try to get their attention and they had to swerved slightly to avoid me.

To cut a long story short, I did finally get a ride but it was from a German couple on holiday. It took tourists to help me out!! Go figure...:eek:
 
I hope that little girl finds the help she needs. If nothing else, she knows that she matters to two people in this world. You were her guardian angel that day.
 
I know what the situation you are in feels like. Good job, you definitely did the right thing. I cannot understand why people would just pass you.
 
Kudos for having the wherewithal and humanity to stop and take action. So many people go through their lives wondering if they will ever really make a difference - you certainly have.

All the best,

- Mike
 
One story that shows the other side of people. Back in about 1962 or so, a buddy of mine and I were headed out to CA. It was cold, like well below zero when my old car quit us out in the middle of nowhere in Wyoming. We waited for as long as we could, not one car even came by. Being young and not to smart, we started walking. We had walked about an hour when a car finally came by and thank god they stopped. The shocking thing is that it was a newly wed, young couple, probably 20 years old. We were still 50 miles from anywhere. They took us up to a truck stop where we spent the night sleeping in a booth, but alive. I have never passed a stranded person on the road since.
 
I have to thank you, too, Reznik. Sometimes people will not stop because they think it's dangerous, but there's always 911. I often think of what the guy said in Second Hand Lions, 'some things (human nature) are worth believing in whether or not they're true (or they're not often true).''

Good job.
 
Good job on helping.

Now, I'll say this: If you think about it from the viewpoint of the people driving by, it probably looked like some sort of domestic situation. One car stopped on the bridge, a girl being held by a man, out in the cold... that's not always the best situation to jump feet first into unless you carry a badge and a gun. Those cars may have been occupied by women and children. Or, men with their families. Just something to think about.
 
EMT_Lee makes a good point.

My wife's deployed and driving my two very young daughters, leaving my vehicle with them in it is simply a risk I'm not about to take, when I was single I helped a few stuck/stranded people.

Good on you, you did the right thing, if you ever come through Oklahoma City, I'll buy you a beer. Just PM me in advance. :D
 
Some people will keep driving simply to avoid having any interaction with police or be involved police matters or police reports.

You help a young girl over a railing next thing you know you're handcuffed in a cruiser as she cries you touched her inappropriately in the process.
 
Whatever you have done in your life, your life was worth it. You more than likely saved that girls life. We need more people like you in the world. My hat goes off to you bro :thumbup:
 
YOU Stopped Reznik572 and helped in the situation. Also the guy in the pickup truck (interesting that only a jeep and pickup truck guy were willing to stop and help) stopped to help after only 5 cars past.

That's not too bad at all. I would say this story restores some faith in me in Americans in rural areas and in people in general.
 
Reznik572 said:
......I've been a bit shaken up since this has happened.....
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Of course this is the "right place." Your skills are not just to benefit yourself. How many of the people who didn't stop might have known what to do - as simple as it seemed to YOU to address a potential hypothermia or shock situation?

As for the part of your post above, in quotes - I can relate to that and I am glad you mentioned it. I don't know what it is or if anyone else understands it (maybe the parmedics, EMTs, fire-fighters do), but it can take a lot out of you. Twice in the (peacetime) Army, I had to attend to someone while calling for a med-evac, and three times in less than two years, I happened to be there before the squad arrived. One of those three times will never leave me. Another time, I was searching a field looking for a dead teen-ager (had two of my own, one of whom was in my car with me when we stopped at the crash) who was thrown from a vehicle. Turns out she had gotten up and walked to a nearby house for help but the other girl in the car did not know it. Took a while to come down off that one even though she was OK. In my mind, for ten minutes or so, she was NOT ok. Not trying to scare you - just saying you're not alone in being shaken up - even though it was someone else. Every time, I look back and think "I did OK, I did everything right..." but I still feel shaken. Talk to someone about it who can keep an eye on you. I never did until you said that about being shaken up. I don't know how the people who do this every day do it.

Good on ya' for the sleeping bag too.:thumbup: I used mylar "space blankets" twice in the above-mentioned situations as they always seem to happen when it's miserable out. People make jokes about the stuff I have in my car and they grumble when they have to move it to make leg room, but it's there when I need it and I HAVE needed it.
 
I think you did the right thing, saving someone who wanted to be saved. I say that because if she wanted to jump, she would have.

People end it all the time; it's not that difficult. I think most suicide attempts that fail are really just another way of asking for help.
 
Thank you all for the kind words. It has been a crazy weekend thats for sure. I feel good, even though I cant stop thinking about her and the look she had in her eyes. I'm glad I was able to help her, it has changed my outlook on things. I'm glad I came by when I did - so many times I havent taken that drive because i've been busy with work or tired etc, so glad I went home that day, hadnt been in about 2months and I just happned to come across someone in need.
 
I really believe that we are here to help one another. Who knows the generations of people you may have helped by that act of concern and kindness.

Great job and thanks for sharing this.
 
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