What could have been a frightening afternoon for a woman in an electric wheelchair instead became a powerful reminder of compassion, quick response, and community—thanks to first responders and a Good Samaritan who knew exactly what to do.
Officers and EMS were called to Shawnee Road after a report that a woman using an electric wheelchair was stuck and needed help getting safely back onto the sidewalk. Her wheelchair had become lodged in mud, leaving her unable to move on her own.
As first responders were en route, help arrived from an unexpected place.
Local chef Will Robinson happened upon the scene while driving with his son and immediately recognized something was wrong.
In a post later shared on social media, Robinson explained that because he has a son who uses a wheelchair, he could tell at a glance that the woman was in distress—even though passersby might not have realized she needed help without stopping to talk to her.
Robinson made a U-turn, and he and his son joined forces with the woman’s sister and another Good Samaritan who had already tried to help. Together, they were able to free the wheelchair from the mud before fire crews arrived.
The woman had already called 911 and was waiting for assistance when the group managed to get her unstuck.
Robinson used the moment to praise first responders, writing that he has deep respect for fire departments everywhere and what they do daily. He also shared a deeply personal reflection—saying that helping the woman felt like more than coincidence.
“I know wheelchairs like no other,” Robinson wrote, explaining that he and his son have experienced nearly every good and bad situation a wheelchair can encounter. He added that pulling away from the scene left him feeling more fulfilled than he could remember.
“It was as if God had placed me there in that moment,” he wrote.
While officers and EMS were ready to assist, the situation was resolved safely thanks to teamwork, awareness, and empathy—especially from someone who understood the challenges of mobility firsthand.
It’s a reminder that accessibility issues can be invisible at first glance—and that sometimes, stopping to ask “Are you okay?” can change everything.