Yesterday around 3:30 pm I was driving west on Pinnacle Reak Rd just east of Cave Creek Rd. Some distracted driver in a white pick up truck veered completely into my lane and was coming head on at me. I hit the horn and jerked my minivan off the road on the right side. There is no shoulder there, just a large patch or deep sand from years of storm run off. My right side tires hit the sand and as my van careened forward it went up on two wheels. There was a pole, maybe a speed limit sign, right where I was headed. I truly thought I was going to die. Instead of my life passing before my eyes I had one clear thought in my head. "Thank you god that my kids are not in the van".
By the grace of god my right wheels sunk deep into the sand and my van fell back down in the upright position. I sat there stunned with sand swirling around my car and fear shreiking through my mind. Glancing up, in my rear view mirror was the distant speck of a white pick up truck.
This is where one would rant and rave about distracted drivers but we all know that they will read many things as they drive, but this post won't be one of them. I would rather tell you what happened next.
I tried calling AAA and as I sat on hold many people drove past offering me nasty looks and a few drive by comments about what a bad location I choose to pull off the road. Finally a kind soul helped me get my van out of the sand pit. Bless you kind soul!
That was not my last kind rescuer. Nervously, I got my car back on the road. Too afraid to u turn I got on cave creek road headed south. About half a mile down I spotted a Valvoline and turned in. To my surprise a young lady came out to greet me. I told her through tears and gulping snot bubble sobs what happened and asked if they could check under my car because I was afraid to drive it. Kiara was so kind. She grabbed water for me and put my car in the front of the line and into a bay immediately. Then Alfred came, brought me tissues and reassurances. He checked under the car and for the most part it was all intact. The same could not be said for me. I was too frighten to pull my car out of the bay so after changing my oil Alfred pulled my car out and turned me around. The lovely young woman that cared for me as I pulled into Valvoline is the daughter of the kind man who got me back on the road.
I hope if you have read this far into my post, that you might be a little more careful driving, but I also hope you might also be mindful when choosing where to give your car business. I hope you will care to give your business to someone who cares so much about their customers. Alfred & Kiara Yarbrough Valvoline 21037 N. Cave Creek road.
Thank you,
Dara