WATCH: Bystanders Stop Runaway Car After Driver Has Medical Episode
By Bill Galluccio
May 12, 2022
A group of Good Samaritans in Florida saved the life of a woman and prevented a car accident after a driver suffered a medical emergency while behind the wheel.
The woman's car slowly entered a busy intersection when one of her co-workers in another car noticed she was slumped over the wheel. He ran out and stopped traffic as several other bystanders got out of their vehicles to help. One man used a dumbbell to smash the rear passenger's side window.
Another man then climbed through the broken window and unlocked the doors. They then managed to put the car in park and pushed it to the parking lot of a 7-Eleven, where a nurse provided medical attention until paramedics arrived.
Davita Peele, who had just finished her shift as a mail carrier, helped direct traffic and kept other drivers safe.
"I got out of my car because people started to blow through the light change, and people didn't see what was going on, so I'm like, ok, just go around, don't go this way, go that way," she told WPBF.
The driver, Laurie Rabyor, told WPEC that she passed because she was fasting for an upcoming medical procedure and had taken blood pressure medication. She told the station that she tried to pull over at a gas station but blacked out.
"When I started to pull in is when I went out and started to convulse, and I hit the curb. I didn't wake up until the next day," said Rabyor.
The Boynton Beach Police Department shared the video on Facebook and said they are working to organize a meeting between the Good Samaritans and Rabyor.
"You all work fast! We have been put in touch with several of the Good Samaritans. We are coordinating everyone's schedules to get them together with the woman they rescued. We will let you know once it's confirmed. Thank you. 💙," the department wrote.
Good Samaritans help driver suffering medical episodeUPDATE: You all work fast! We have been put in touch with several of the Good Samaritans. We are coordinating everyone’s schedules to get them together with the woman they rescued. We will let you know once it’s confirmed. Thank you. 💙 If you watch any video in your feed today, make it this one. A group of Good Samaritans sprang into action on May 5 to help a woman who suffered a medical episode while driving on Woolbright Road. As her car slowly entered the intersection at Congress Avenue, her co-worker raced across the street waving her arms to get the attention of other motorists. Her co-worker was in another car and saw her slumped over the steering wheel. Several people got out of their cars and worked together to stop the moving car. One woman grabbed a dumbbell from her car and a man used it to smash the rear passenger’s side window. Another man then climbed through the window to unlock the passenger’s side door. The car was then put in park and the Good Samaritans pushed it to a nearby 7-Eleven parking lot where a nurse who was on the phone with 911 provided medical attention until the fire department arrives. We are sharing this video in hopes of learning the identities of all the strangers who came together to save this woman’s life. They are heroes and we want to bring them back together at the police department to recognize them and meet the woman they rescued. We need your help to do this. If you or someone you know is in this video or helped in any way, please contact PIO Stephanie Slater at slaters@bbfl.us.
Posted by Boynton Beach Police Department on Wednesday, May 11, 2022