An elderly couple are overwhelmed with gratitude for their Vernon community after a dozen or so people stopped to offer to help them out of a tough situation.
Stan and Erna McMaster, 88 and 84 respectively, were driving in town Dec. 9 when at the corner of Alexis Park Drive and 35th Avenue they were rear-ended hard by the vehicle behind them. The McMasters’ vehicle sustained considerable damage, and the two were left shaken up on the side of the road.
But before long, their hearts were warmed by the generosity of passersby.
“About 12 people stopped to see if we needed help,” Stan told The Morning Star. “I was so impressed with the people that stopped.”
Stan said the lady who caused the crash was in tears as she came to meet them, and cooperated fully with the exchange of information.
“I felt sorry for her too because she didn’t do it on purpose, she was distracted,” Stan said.
Within minutes after the crash, people were coming up to the McMasters to offer help. A lady walking down the sidewalk immediately rushed to see if the couple was okay. Another lady walked down from her place about half a block away to check on them soon after, and people kept pulling over to offer help until the tow truck arrived.
“Jeff from Vernon Towing was also just phenomenal with us,” Stan said, explaining Jeff offered his wife a warm place to sit inside the tow truck while Stan filled out the paperwork.
“That guy just went out of his way to help us,” Stan said.
The McMasters don’t know the names of the many strangers who dropped everything to offer help after the incident, but wish to put out a big thank you with the hope that some will see their message.
“The people of Vernon, by God, they sure showed the good side of them when they stopped to help,” Stan said.
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