ARGYLE, Maine — A reported wrong-way driver on Interstate 95 early Thursday evening turned out to be helping another driver, according to Maine State Police.
The woman, whose name was not available, saw in her rearview mirror a Connecticut man lose control of his car and go into the median at about 5 p.m. Thursday, Sgt. Sean Hashey said late Thursday.
“She turned around in the breakdown lane next to the median and drove north to offer aid to the driver and the passenger,” he said. “We got quite a few calls about a wrong-way driver.”
George Cote, 69, and his wife, Antoinette Cote, 66, both of Hebron, Conn., were heading south on I-95 when the left-rear tire blew out, according to Hashey. George Cote lost control of his 2002 Chevrolet Impala near mile marker 205 in Argyle, where the speed limit is 75 miles-per-hour.
“He went off the road into the median, up over some rocks and came to rest against some small alder trees,” Hashey said.
George Cote was not injured, but his wife was transported to Eastern Maine Medical Center complaining of back pain, he said.
Both were wearing seatbelts.
Hashey said that drivers should call for assistance rather than turn around and drive the wrong way on the Interstate, even if they are in a break-down lane.
The road to hell is paved with good intentions. ;/)
I always get a kick out of reading you Rock,,,spot on ! I remember my youthful idealism as I’m sure most did, in my case I wanted to save the world in some way.
That all change after a few years in the working world. Reality came crashing home as they say. Not to mention over the years the dumps I’ve lived in.
Not to drag this comment into a monolog but that good Samaritan better hope she didn’t pull anyone out of that car, I once dated a nurse who stop to help and almost got sued.
And yet in her profession she was bound by law to offer aid. She told me that was the last time.
You can’t be sued for trying to help as a Good Samaritan, its a law.
ANYBODY can sue ANYBODY……..will it be successful
may be another story. But having to go through the
aggravation is enough to make one hesitate to become involved.
That’s doubtful especially if she was a nurse due to the Good Samaritan Law.
So more than likely that’s a story you’re telling. There are laws that protect those who try to help.
I would like to find a study on which brand of tire blows out most often .
I don’t think it matters which brand you use, if your tires are worn or cracked, you will eventually get a flat. If you have bald tires, a sharp rock or tiny piece of metal with a rough edge is more than enough to rip the tire apart–especially at highway speeds. I am not saying that is the case here, but after the huge mess in 2000 with Firestone tires, the quality of all tires seems to have gone up, most likely to meet some government safety standard.
the ones that are over or under inflated
Kudos for the intentions on being a Good Samaritan, but turning around and driving the wrong way on the Interstate can cause more harm than good…..
So back up in the break down lane.
Who’d notice that ?
Good on her for taking the responsibity to do the right thing given that no one could know how serious it was.
But, sadly, she did reinforse the myth that women can’t back a car up.
Sorry, I’m just saying.
I am guessing we all know that it is not too smart to drive the wrong way on the interstate, even in the breakdown lane.
My question to the PD: how long did it take them to respond? While this woman’s actions were debatable, considering the nature of the accident which could have been much much worse; a matter of life and death for those who were in the car, It only takes a few minutes to bleed to death.
I day Kudos to her, and to those who called in the wrong way driver. Alls well that ends well. That doesn’t happen very often these days.
I heard they responded rather quickly. It was non life threatening from what I understand.
The good Samaritan acted without careful consideration, no doubt young and impulsive.
As a over the road trucker once told me, “if an animal runs out in front of me their dead before I swerve and jack knife and take out 20”