Victim grateful for help

Letters to the Editor
Published: September 3, 2008

On Thursday evening, Aug. 21, I was traveling north on Highway 431 with my two dogs. As I approached the top of a hill just past the old Helms Gun Shop building, the driver of a car ran out into the four-lane, causing me to hit him broadside.

My car caught on fire and I received multiple injuries. With no other adults in my car, I was unable to get myself and my dogs out of the car. But, just in time, some wonderful and caring people stopped to help me, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for all they have done.

Chris Bradshaw, owner of the Blue Plate restaurants in Dothan, is responsible for pulling me out of a burning car and saving my life and the lives of my two dogs. After getting me out of the car, he removed my dogs and purse from the car. He took the dogs and purse to his home where he and his wife, Cathryn, and their two sons took care of my dogs and my belongings until I was dismissed from the hospital.

Tammy Skipper of Ashford also stopped to help. She loaned me her cell phone so that I could notify my family of the incident. She also talked to my family to help relay what was going on.
I would also like to express my heartfelt thanks to the Dothan Police Department, the Dothan Fire and Rescue Squad and Care Ambulance for the rapid response and for all they did in this emergency. They all are truly lifesavers and I am truly grateful.

Debbie Edson Weiss
Fort Walton Beach, Fla.