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Show Think Twice Next Time On August 25, as my husband and I were traveling over Cedar Mountain enroute to Cedar City, we came across a truck on fire. Oil was leaking from underneath as sparks and flames were ablaze and smoke all over the area. Two people were inside unaware of the condition they were in. Cars were backed up behind them as well as in front, ours being one of the first cars towards them. We couldn't believe that this truck was on fire, close to exploding at any moment and no one was trying to help them. There must have been dozens of people, all standing around watching the fire. They were worried about being too close to the burning truck. My husband jumped out of our vehicle and ran over and opened the doors of the truck and helped the people out, telling them that it was on fire. My husband yelled to the watching people to come help out and if someone had a fire extinguisher, bring it over. A man ran over and they lifted the hood to put the flames out. As the hood was lifted, flames came flying out from the engine and it was briskly put out as well as underneath. All the while as traffic is backed up both directions, there were people weaving through the traffic to continue on their destination without holdup. As I watched, I was mortified at what I was seeing. People not wanting to get involved, too worried about themselves. My husband was an ex-policeman with training and experience in emergency situations, however, I personally do not feel that it takes any kind of experience, training or otherwise to help someone out in a situation like this. Does it take experience to tell someone they're in a burning truck whose lives may be in danger? Seconds after the fire was out and the excitement over, every single car drove off, driving around us and the truck still in the driving lane, until we were the only ones left. Never in my life have I been so mad and saddened at mankind and at those people than at that moment. Now that the fire was out, did that mean that these people no longer needed any help? My husband guided them back down the road about a quarter mile to where a pull-off spot was, guiding the traffic around the truck and keeping the traffic flowing. From there we gave them a lift down to Cedar. People need to think and feel a little more. Does it take so much out of a vacation to help someone out whose life may be in danger? Does it hurt to be a little late to an appointment to tell someone something some-thing is wrong with their car? And once the incident is over, don't people need help afterwards? It could have been someone you knew or loved, or it could have been you in that truck that day. Perhaps the t next time one of us should run., across a situation like this, we'll think twice before hitting 'the cruise and going on our merry way. They are, after all, human beings just like you and me. Sunia Spencer Escalante |