I was driving along the highway one night when the car just suddenly dropped 10 mph and right after that dropped another 10. I was at the exit and took it, coasting into the gas station at the bottom of it. I had NO idea what to do, no cell phone, nothing. A kind older man who looked a little hardened to the world offered to let me use his phone. I remain grateful to this day. After I returned it, he came over and suggested I pop the hood to let the heat escape and then opened it for me . He then went back to his car and hung around, but not in a creepy way, until my help arrived.
Another time, a man threw himself in front of my car in broad daylight then tried to get me to take him home since he was "hurt." I hadn't seen him until he was sprawled across the roadway, papers flying. My cell was at home, dead. Some teens had seen the whole thing, apparently called the police, hung around until after they arrived, then came and alerted the LEOs to an apparent weapon he had removed from a pocket and hidden in the grass once detained. That was the first I'd known of their presence. I never spoke with them directly.
Another time, my car window was bashed out onto me. I floored it and once safely away, I pulled up to a random house where a person was outside sweeping and I asked to use their phone. They escorted me into their house, tended my wounds, and called the police themselves and insisted I stay and drink some water until the police arrived.
If I thought harder, I could probably come up with another half-a-dozen situations in which someone else came to my rescue when things were rough. I agree that there are risks and that it is wise to assess and limit risks to oneself, especially when the situation is already violent in nature. I just want to give you hope that there are a lot of instances of good Samaritans out there who save the day, don't get hurt, and are remembered fondly for many years to come, too.
For all of you good Samaritans who've helped a lady in distress, thank you!
