Comments on: American heroes still exist…..

By: Casey

Casey — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:58:53 +0000

Thank you so much for your kind words. Lonnie is my fiance and he is a really great guy. The other mans name is Robert Skaggs. Mr. Skaggs left the scene right after the accident and didn’t want to be in the media. Lonnie was caught up in the moment with adrenaline pumping and answered questions on the news. Afterward, the news found him at home and at a job and asked more questions. Some people are saying because Mr. Skaggs stayed out of the spotlight that Lonnie was seeking fame. I can assure this is not the case. Lonnie is a very private and modest man. He is the father of five and works very hard every day to take care of our family. Just because he was on television doesn’t make him any less of a hero. In fact, he refused to do any more interviews because the media wasn’t portraying the credit he was giving to the other man (Mr. Skaggs) he was sick over it because he didn’t want people to get the wrong impression. It’s sad that this day in age, even someone who does a good deed gets criticized for anything someone can find. You were so right, he didn’t have to leave his job site. He said something inside of him told him to go. He just started running until he got there and saw Mr. Skaggs pulling on the windshield. From there he kicked in the window and together they pulled Mr. Tobias to safety. No matter who was on the news and who wasn’t they were both very brave that day. Everyone came home safely to their families and that is the main point of this story. Lonnie is my hero everyday. He works so hard to provide for us. In this case he put his own life aside and risked it for this man. I am so grateful things turned out the way that they did. He is a great man and I just wanted to thank you for your kind words!

reply from Robert: Thank you for adding information that I didn’t have or could get. It bothered me that heroes in our country are not looked at as heroes anymore. So I decided that the best thing to do was to find the story on them and post it……as my tribute to the sacrifice of these two men. Glad that you had Mr. Skagg’s name. That was needed in the story too, and I added it. Glad you are reading and hope you continue.

By: BK

BK — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 03:17:22 +0000

Such heroic and selfless acts are truly an inspiration to others and remind us that there are still such great people in the world.
reply from Robert: This is so true, and it is an inspiration that to me shows the glory of God in the actions of people, in risking they’re own safety and their own lives to save someone else.

By: Seane-Anna

Seane-Anna — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:36:08 +0000

Lonnie Hood and the Carmel policeman acted as heroically in this situation as our soldiers on the front lines. They put their own lives in danger to help a fellow human being, and they didn’t hesitate to do it. Kudos to these two brave Americans. I hope their heroism and selflessness will serve as an inspiration to us all.

reply from Robert: Thanks Seane Anna…..I did make a mistake in the post though, and I am going to correct it tonight. The truck didn’t drop of the bridge to the roadway below, it was on the road below and was coming off oc I-69 southbound, and was on the curving ramp onto 465 South. He was going too fast and didn’t make the corner. And the heroism of those two people was amazing to tell the story of. Not sure what I would have done if I had been there but I would like to think I would have done the same thing. But God Bless everyone who did respond to this accident. The freeway to the west opened up today and to the south…but the east bound 465 is still closed. That bridge sustained some damage.

By: Roadhouse

Roadhouse — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 03:10:55 +0000

As a trucker myself, stories like this tend to hit a little close to home. I’ve seen more than my share of accidents in my fifteen years in a big rig…some with much less fortunate outcomes for those involved.

Hopefully, stories like this can serve as a reminder to everyone that driving is a skill and a daily challenge that requires attention and discipline, and also that “tomorrow is promised to no one”.

Drive safe.

reply from Robert: Thank you sir. This one hit home cause I was on that bridge just minutes before it happened. But you are right. We never know when the “accident” comes that will take us back to our maker. As you said, Tomorrow is promised to no one.

I know this one is a departure from the normal subject of Wise Conservatism, but I felt it was one that was necessary as too many of us take driving for granted. Driving is a privilege, no one has the right to drive, and with driving comes the responsibility to do it safely……not only for your sake but for their’s as well. God bless you sir on your drive down America’s highways.