WWYD... Good Samaritan?

[sam_gordon]

On my way into work, I got off the interstate and there was a pickup truck pulled over on the shoulder and a guy trying to wave down traffic.

I pull over to see if I could help. He comes up to the window, says his wife and baby are in the truck, they're on their way home to Tennessee and ran out of gas. He's willing to sell his watch, cell phone, tools, etc. He says his wife is in tears in the truck.

I had no cash on me (was on the way to the bank to get some), so couldn't exactly help, said sorry, and drove on.

I wanted to know what the Dis would do. Before you answer, here's a couple other facts related to my stop...

* I did not notice the license plates of the truck
* Where I pulled over (about 20' in front of the truck), I couldn't tell if there was someone else in the truck
* He said they were on their way to TN. I'm in KY. The problem is the exit ramp they were on was for NORTHBOUND I75 (that's the wrong way to get to TN).

Yes, there is a good chance this was just a "scam". If I had some money, I would have questioned him how he's getting to TN by heading north in Kentucky before giving him anything.

So, what would you have done?

 

[Hannathy]

offer to go get a couple gallons of gas and bring it back to him. That's if my DH was with me, as a woman alone I would have just called it in to the police (not 911) and not stopped alone.

If it was true he would take the gas if it wasn't and he refused I would drive off and call the police.

 

[sam_gordon]

offer to go get a couple gallons of gas and bring it back to him. That's if my DH was with me, as a woman alone I would have just called it in to the police (not 911) and not stopped alone.

If it was true he would take the gas if it wasn't and he refused I would drive off and call the police.

I thought about that. Here's why I didn't do it... I didn't have a gas can, and, since he was on the northbound exit ramp, it wouldn't have been easy to get back to him.

 

[smitch425]

On my way into work, I got off the interstate and there was a pickup truck pulled over on the shoulder and a guy trying to wave down traffic.

I pull over to see if I could help. He comes up to the window, says his wife and baby are in the truck, they're on their way home to Tennessee and ran out of gas. He's willing to sell his watch, cell phone, tools, etc. He says his wife is in tears in the truck.

I had no cash on me (was on the way to the bank to get some), so couldn't exactly help, said sorry, and drove on.

I wanted to know what the Dis would do. Before you answer, here's a couple other facts related to my stop...

* I did not notice the license plates of the truck
* Where I pulled over (about 20' in front of the truck), I couldn't tell if there was someone else in the truck
* He said they were on their way to TN. I'm in KY. The problem is the exit ramp they were on was for NORTHBOUND I75 (that's the wrong way to get to TN).

Yes, there is a good chance this was just a "scam". If I had some money, I would have questioned him how he's getting to TN by heading north in Kentucky before giving him anything.

So, what would you have done?

I voted that I would not have stopped. I would have stopped at a safe location and found a non emergency police number for the area and let them know someone needed help. I don't think I would call 911 unless the guy was trying to flag people down in the middle of the highway. I guess it would depend on how desperate he appeared to be as to who I called, but no way am I stopping my car when I have no way of knowing who that person could turn out to be.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I always wondering about who to call when you see someone on the highway. I assume you shouldn't call 911. Do you call the non-emergency state police number? I don't even think I know what that is.

 

[marmalade]

I am a bad Samaritan because I wouldn't stop for a man on the side of the road flagging someone down, especially if I was alone or had my kids with me.

 

[happygirl]

I would have called someone to help them. As for being headed the wrong direction maybe he was taking the ramp to find a gas station. It hard to tell.

 

[michellev]

I wouldn't have stopped. I live right beside a major highway and have had more people than I can count show up at my door over the years needing help. A few were genuine, most were idiots. I used to try to help them all, however I have learned from towing companies and the police that the best thing for these people to do is WAIT. Tow trucks and police frequent major highways, so they likely won't wait long before help arrives.

Interestingly enough, since cell phones have become so common we don't have people knocking on our door anymore. I'm surprised this guy didn't have a cell phone.

 

[Pakey]

Basing my answer on where I live, there's no way I would stop.

 

[shortbun]

I would have called a non emergency number for the police and told them someone was stranded on the road. I would not have stopped at all. Too dangerous.

 

[Happy 2 B Me]

Use a cell phone and call the police in the same situation. State police can alsways call for atleast 5 gallons of gas that would get someone to a station.

I know times are hard for so many people. And it is our duty as a country to help those in true need. Since we have no way of knowing anothers true intentions do not take the chance that you happened to want to help a stranger that wanted to rob you or worse yet take your car after they hurt you emotionally and phycially. Please do not think that even if it were a woman flagging you down that you would be safe.

Be Safe.

 

[LadyBeBop]

I would have called 911. Since he was on the exit ramp emergency lane, that's enough of a road hazard for 911 purposes.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I would not have stopped. I would have called a non emergency number if I wanted to help.

I am not stopping on the side of the highway, even an exit ramp unless I am either broke down or pulled over. Too many people get hit/killed here.

 

[Shmily1]

I would have said Sorry.... but then probably added a smart comment since I've seen the same couple doing this trick about 30 minutes from my several times. DH even gave them money one time.

 

[sam_gordon]

I would have called someone to help them. As for being headed the wrong direction maybe he was taking the ramp to find a gas station. It hard to tell.

He was on the northbound exit ramp. Which means he was heading north in order to get to that point. TN is south.

I am surprised so many of you know the non-emergency number for the police.

 

[kirstenb1]

My first thought would've been to bring him acouple gallons of gas. But you guys are right about the smart thing being to call motorist assistance (what it's called in Va)

 

[sissy_ib]

He was on the northbound exit ramp. Which means he was heading north in order to get to that point. TN is south.

I am surprised so many of you know the non-emergency number for the police.

In some areas it is a three digit number. I don't know the non-emergency number here.

And no way I would have stopped. You just never know.

 

[Tinkerdreams]

On my way into work, I got off the interstate and there was a pickup truck pulled over on the shoulder and a guy trying to wave down traffic.

I pull over to see if I could help. He comes up to the window, says his wife and baby are in the truck, they're on their way home to Tennessee and ran out of gas. He's willing to sell his watch, cell phone, tools, etc. He says his wife is in tears in the truck.

I had no cash on me (was on the way to the bank to get some), so couldn't exactly help, said sorry, and drove on.

I wanted to know what the Dis would do. Before you answer, here's a couple other facts related to my stop...

* I did not notice the license plates of the truck
* Where I pulled over (about 20' in front of the truck), I couldn't tell if there was someone else in the truck
* He said they were on their way to TN. I'm in KY. The problem is the exit ramp they were on was for NORTHBOUND I75 (that's the wrong way to get to TN).

Yes, there is a good chance this was just a "scam". If I had some money, I would have questioned him how he's getting to TN by heading north in Kentucky before giving him anything.

So, what would you have done?

Red flag!! Red flag!! If he had a cell phone, why didn't he call for assistance himself.

 

[Arielle22]

I would have called the state police. The main highways have signs with the police # on it. It is star then two digit number.

I work in downtown Boston and see people pulling a version of this scam at the train station. Wife is pregnant and they are trying to get home to Maine but have no money or local homeless shelter has no room (on coldest day of the winter) and need money to get to another shelter.

In the first scam the couple was hanging around for months and the male started to swear at my boss when he pointed that out and I have seen the homeless scam by the same man several times each winter. The local homeless shelter will actually bus overflow to other locations on the bitter nights so he would not be turned away.

 

[Laura66]

I'm betting it's a scam. When I used to work people would come into our office building all the tim and pull this. I've had the same request happene at the mall or out to dinner. I might offer to call AAA for them - but that's about it!