Good Samaritan Provides Neighborly Roadside Assistance, Free of Charge

Walt Brinker has been providing free roadside assistance to strangers since 1980. He’s shared his knowledge in his book “Roadside Survival: Low-Tech Solutions to Automobile Break Downs.”
Good Samaritan Provides Neighborly Roadside Assistance, Free of Charge
Walt Brinker has been helping motorists free of charge since 1980. Courtesy of Walt Brinker
Andrew Thomas
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During Christmastime in 1980, Walt Brinker was driving when he saw a woman whose car had broken down on the side of the road. Her hood was popped open, and her engine had stalled. He pulled over and gave her a jumpstart with his jumper cables, and got her car running. Since then, he’s provided over 2,000 roadside assists to complete strangers—at no charge.

“I was so inspired by her relief and how good I felt that I said, ‘Wow, I’ve got to do more of this.’ That’s where it all started right there,” Brinker said.