The Good Samaritans

Letters TO THE EDITOR

Last Thursday, opening day at the track, we experienced thunderstorms just after 7PM. A furious little squall knocked down a tree between the Northway Exit 14 and Union Avenue. The trunk was at windshield height and blocked the merge lane and the right lane. I was driving a van and was able to stop and block the road. My flashers were blinking while I called the police. A truck with many ladders (a roofing crew?) passed me and pulled over. Another car pulled over and an immense man got out in the rain and 1/4” hail. This man tried to move the tree but it was too big. The people in the stopped truck got out and they  had axes. They chopped the tree in half and helped the big fellow move it off the road. When the police arrived the road was cleared!

I say THANK YOU to these unknown men who deserve a round of applause if not a commendation from the city for clearing the road and possibly saving a life or two! The tree was at windshield height and I shudder when I think of a car or pickup hitting that trunk and breaking someone’s neck.

– H.J. Simpson