A Real Life Superhighway Hero Crippled By Fuel Costs

Thomas Weller is known around San Diego as a real life highway hero. Since a good Samaritan helped him get out of a snow bank way back in 1964 he's been passing the good turns on to the drivers of California's highways. His rescuer told him he needed no thanks, just pass it on. I guess Weller took it seriously, he's been passing it on every week for more than 40 years, cruising the blacktop in his 1955 Ford wagon (highly modified for rescue and repair). Every day Weller would hit the streets in search of motorists in distress, usually flat tires or empty gas tanks. He's probably helped thousands out of a pinch over the years, but these days he's the victim of his own cutbacks. The price of gas has limited his patrolling to only 3 days a week, leaving him stranded himself -- on his front porch. Until prices come down or he finds something a little more fuel efficient, Thomas Weller will be sadly sidelined. Maybe somebody has an extra Sprinter he can use?

Read more about Thomas Weller and his amazing history in the Los Angeles Times.