When Erica Christine Usinger’s tire blew out on the interstate, the distressed driver, alone and without a functional spare, had no option but to wait for someone to stop.
In a moment of serendipity, a good Samaritan was driving down the I-85 that day; not only did he stop and help, but he went above and beyond Erica’s expectations.
Eventually, a man named Teewon pulled over. “[He] stopped on an extremely busy part of 85 in rush hour on his way home from work,” Erica explained, “and tried to replace my tire with my spare, which we discovered was also flat.”
Erica told Teewon that her mother was on the way and had a spare tire in her trunk. Teewon waited with the worried driver for more than 40 minutes until her mom arrived, but unfortunately, her spare tire was also flat.
In an unprecedented gesture of kindness, Teewon then gifted Erica his own spare tire. “He used his own spare so that I could safely get off the side of the road,” Erica wrote on Facebook, “and led us to the closest gas station where he could fill up my spare and change out the tires.”
“He also filled up my mom’s spare tire in case of an emergency,” she said.
Discovering Her Hero’s Identity
Teewon Vaye works for financial company Wells Fargo in Charlotte, North Carolina. Erica hopes that sharing her story and Teewon’s roadside heroics will encourage his employer to “see what an amazing employee they have, and what he was willing to do for complete strangers just out of the kindness of his heart.”
Erica eventually learned of the good Samaritan’s identity when his girlfriend, Ling Ling McNeil-Dixon, reached out to Erica via social media.
Facebook users also reached out, after reading Erica’s post, to share their praise and gratitude. “Perfect example of ‘love your brother.’ A good Samaritan for sure,” wrote one person.
“Wow, what an amazing young man,” added another. “The world needs more like him.”
Teewon’s Response
News on social media spreads like wildfire; it wasn’t long before Teewon got wind of the hype behind his act of kindness. According to WMBF News, he sent Erica a video.In the video, Teewon’s two small children say ’thank you' for the public acknowledgement before Teewon adds his take-home message. “I feel like if we can help a person in the smallest way possible, we all can make a difference in this world,” he says.
Erica shared her response with the local news channel. “He didn’t even think twice about whether or not I was a good person,” she said. “He just saw that I was stopped, and helped me anyway.”
“I think it shows that there are lots of good people in this world,” Erica added, “and this is what we should be applauding people for.”
What to Do If Your Tire Blows Out
At the moment of the blowout, say the experts, “just keep calm and drive straight down your lane.” In an ideal world, they explain, it’s wise to keep your feet off the brake pedal and allow the drag of the blown tire to slow the vehicle to around 30 miles per hour, or slower, before turning the steering wheel.
Attempt to find a quiet side street in which to park, or if you are stuck on a busy road, once the vehicle has slowed considerably, gently ease onto the shoulder. If a rear tire has blown out, turning the wheel while traveling at high speed could cause the vehicle to spin out.
Once in a position relatively safe from traffic, your best option is to call AMA, if you have a membership (you should invest in one), or call a tow truck to help you out if you are not trained to change a flat. Otherwise, you'll need to open up the spare and the jack usually located in the trunk under the floor lining. It is best if you have been shown how and are confident to change a tire before attempting it solo. Otherwise, your best bet might be to do as Erica did and flag someone down who knows what they’re doing.
