New Years Day could have been even more of a nightmare for Staci Hurley, Spring Hill, than a several-hour delay in Iola.
With two of her children in tow, Hurley was driving to Oklahoma when a tire blew on her Jeep Cherokee at the east entrance to Iola. She had no spare and just $80. Outside, temperatures hovered at 22 degrees.
But thanks to the help of an Allen County Sheriffs deputy, Hurley received much more than roadside assistance.
She and her children learned the good that comes from strangers helping each other. Her daughter witnessed the warm and fuzzy side of law enforcement officers. And her son got a crash course in how to change a tire.
The family had already been through a lot by the time their tire blew. Hurleys father had died that morning from complications from choking on food on Christmas Eve.
Hurley, who is three months pregnant, gathered her two older children, son Reid, 15, and Raylynn, 12, to travel to Oklahoma, leaving her five-month-old at home with her husband. The family had recently moved, so she had removed the spare tire and jack from the vehicle to make space.
When the tire blew, she limped the car to a nearby parking lot. Her insurance companys roadside assistance program wasnt available. And because it was New Years, most local businesses were closed. Not knowing where to turn, Hurley called emergency dispatchers. Raylynn, who has had negative experiences with law enforcement, was scared and didnt want her to call the cops.
Allen County Sheriffs Deputy Travis Buck soon arrived to help.
We frequently help people change a tire, but when you dont have a jack or a spare, that kind of throws a wrench into things, Buck said.
Buck had a jack, but his lug wrench didnt fit her Jeeps wheel. He recruited help from TJs Towing. With the tire removed, Buck took Hurley to the Walmart Tire Center, the only tire shop open on New Years. A new tire cost $125; Hurley, who teaches kindergarten, had just $80. An employee covered the rest.
Meanwhile, Hurleys children called from the car. Buck heard them tell her they were hungry. Knowing Hurley had spent the last of her money on the tire, Buck gave her $30 for food.
I was an absolute wreck, Hurley said. But they still treated me like I was not a crazy person.
When they got back to the car, Hurley asked Buck if he would show her son the basics of changing a tire. On the verge of driving, Reid lacked that skill. Despite the cold weather, the deputy showed Reid where to place the jack and a quick lesson.
Equipped with a new tire, and valuable lessons, the family said goodbye to Deputy Buck. He was amazing, he really was, Hurley said. He gave me a hug when I left and it gave me the power to drive on.
Days later, Hurleys father-in-law came to Iola in an effort to reimburse Buck for the money hed given Hurley. The deputy refused.
Officers help with a variety of emergencies, large and small, Allen County Sheriff Bryan Murphy said. Every officer across the country probably has a story similar to this one, Murphy said.
