Angels wear black!

 By Shar Porier

It was 104 degrees and I’m sitting on the side of the road with a blown tire. 

That morning, I had thought about buying a jack and socket wrench. Hours later, I regretted not doing so. My SUV had a flat on the front passenger side — the third in recent months — and while I had a spare tire, I had no way to change it.

I’m beginning to think the front passenger side of my car is cursed. It’s the third one I’ve had over the past few months. Or was that just the heat talking?

I can’t run the engine to keep cool because my SUV was sitting in dried weeds and grasses. That’s all I’d need – start a fire. 

So, I grab my phone and start searching for nearby help. Of course, it had to happen in a desolate spot on U.S. Route 191. No homes in sight, just some grain elevators a mile or so away. But, the tow trucks were quite a distance away – Benson, Douglas, Willcox.  

By that point, I’d been in my car for about 20 minutes. It was hot, so hot. Sweat was dripping. I had water, but it was almost gone. I needed help and decided to call 911. Maybe they could help me find a service.

The call went in to the 911 center in Sierra Vista and since I was on a U.S. route, she transferred me to the Department of Public Safety. DPS came on the line and I explained the situation. She told me not to worry, help was on the way.

The open back hatch brought a little bit of a breeze, but it was not enough to cool me down. It was so hot. 

I expected a tow truck, but instead a DPS vehicle pulled in behind me. Flashing lights signaled my rescue. Out stepped Adriana, in a black DPS uniform, ready to help. She was going to get me back on the road. 

I was so surprised and so darn hot, I didn’t know what to say. When I offered to help her, she said no, there was no need. She immediately offered me water instead. 

Turns out, DPS has a civilian, driver assist team that patrols the highways for stranded motorists. It’s a service they have provided for decades, said Bart Graves, DPS Media Relations Specialist. Many on the team are retired like Adriana who said she just wanted to continue helping the community. 

She pulled out a hydraulic-type jack, a torque wrench and a socket set that would fit just about any size nut in existence. I took note of her gear so that when I went shopping I would know what to buy. She even told me where I could get the jack she had. 

In no time, she had me back on the road with a fresh bottle of water and a sincere sense of gratitude to DPS. She saved me that day and I am forever grateful to her and whoever it was that decided a civilian driver assist team was a great idea. 

As an older, single woman like me, to know there is help available from a safe and trusted source is a peace of mind I now have when I’m out on the road. 

So, all you ladies need not worry about car trouble. Help is just three numbers away.