A disturbing highway camera video raises a question: Do people care anymore? What’s happened to humanity? The story unfolded last week, October 22, on Arkansas’ Interstate 30. Ironically, the incident occurred near the town of Friendship.
Heavy traffic—heavy heart
At around 2:00 in the afternoon, a Class A motorhome traveling west on the interstate rolls into the picture. The driver scrambles to get the burning rig off on the shoulder of the road. It’s a busy Tuesday, and traffic is anything but light.
As flames shoot out of the driver’s side of the motorhome, we see a sole figure run around on the traffic side of the RV. Apparently the person tries, in vain, to use a fire extinguisher to quell the flames. There’s no time to worry about the toad car fixed to the back of the big motorhome.
Passing humanity gives up on humanity
But what about passing traffic? Scores of cars, semi-trucks and, yes, other RVers roll over to the far lane, keeping as far away as possible. But not a single one of them stops. Finally, after nearly five minutes, a passenger cars veers from the far lane, past the motorhome, and parks ahead of the rig. Two figures come running back to the burning rig.
Granted, most passing motorists probably aren’t carrying a fire extinguisher with them. But what about those commercial trucks? The law mandates they carry fire suppression gear with them. Yet through the entire incident, not a single commercial driver stops. In years past, truck drivers were thought of as “the knights of the road.” Not anymore.
We can’t point the finger at truck drivers alone. Somewhere among those literally hundreds of vehicles that flew past this tragedy, somebody might have been available to try and at least see if someone were trapped on board the motorhome. Maybe they couldn’t have saved them—but at least showing enough humanity to offer to help could have made this rig’s owner know somebody cared.
Humanity. While artificial intelligence doesn’t have it, at least it knows how to define it: “The qualities of being human: The qualities that make us human, such as the ability to love, be creative, and have compassion.” Sad to say, near that little town of Friendship, too many people just forgot all about it.
Here’s local news coverage – focusing on the resulting brush fire.
##RVT1181b
We have been conditioned not to help and also to “wait for the professionals.” People are afraid to intervene in almost everything and anything that happens. Look at the poor guy who saved a drowning woman only to have her complain about him touching her breast while giving CPR. Look at the poor guy in NY who steps in and holds a crazy guy back, who unfortunately dies, on the NYC subway only to have the officials throw the book at him. This was even though witness supported him and were in fear of their lives. We are trained helping is not worth the risk.
Whoa, whoa, whoa! You had me right up to the moment when you brought up the subway cowboy who killed an admittedly “off” passenger. Who “unfortunately dies”? There’s a huge difference between people “helping” and people going all Rambo, as the New York court system is now sorting out. Bad example!
His name is Daniel Penny and he is a former Marine who saw a threat and acted. I wonder how many people would be celebrating his actions had they too been on that subway? …instead of simply believing a “news” narrative…and calling a true Patriot a “subway cowboy” 🇺🇸
https://rumble.com/v2no47e-marine-veteran-daniel-penny-charged-in-chokehold-death-of-jordan-neely.html
Great example of why turning away is so very prevalent in our society. No good deed….
Just no one wants to get involved these days. No, I could not have helped – with the fire or getting anyone out of the motorhome. But I could have offered my cell phone to call for help. I could have offered sympathy to the owner. Would I have stopped? As a solo traveler, I don’t know until it happens. And you can’t lay blame on the truck drivers. How many of them are in trouble with their company when they don’t make their scheduled stops?
I wouldn’t get anywhere close to a Class A motorhome fully engulfed in flames. What if the gas tank explodes?
Or the propane tank..
Just maybe they all called for aid or truckers heard on their cb’s help was on the way…that kind of fire is very dangerous…..ease up….
We weren’t there so I can’t honestly say how we would have reacted. Something like this sometimes you’re maybe better off staying out of the way for the first responders.
At the very least, at the 6 minute mark, he’s able to save the toad.
What exactly do you want people to do? A burning rig filled with fuel and propane in total flames? A 5# fire extinguisher isn’t going to do anything. Anyone too close is in danger of the explosion of those fuels.
I would stay clear and dial 911 as probably many did.
Stopping to help in what way? Offering a “I’m sorry or are you okay or hurt” is going to do exactly what. People passing this tragic incident more in likely called 911 and reported it. Can you imagine the hundreds or dozens of vehicles stopping, they’re going to impede first responders and close down the freeway. I understand the sentiment but …
i fell in the middle of a street in troy ny..( 81 year old , male )…cars just drove around me…not one stopped..two gentlemen ( pedestrians ) came over to assist…so many people are in such a rush and are self centered
I’d like to know why it took approximately 25 minutes for first responders to show up while a fire was raging on an interstate highway.
A lot depends on where the nearest fire station was. Most rural areas have volunteer departments. At 2 pm the volunteers may be working. It requires a full crew to roll a truck.
All those people passing had the attitude that ‘it’s not me, so I don’t care’.
I found it really ironic when the trucks and the 5th wheel passed and kept going.
As far as calling 911, I wonder how many actually made a call!
Bob understands quite a bit about paid fire departments and volunteer fire departments. Did you know 70% of USA firefighters are volunteers?
As for volunteer fire departments, while it’s true that at 2pm most are working, they don’t wait for a full crew to roll a truck…..at least the area of PA where I am a member of my local department. Our trucks will roll with as few as one member. We use an App so we know who is responding and if they are responding to the scene or station. Sometimes calls are just pretty far away when it comes to interstate highways.
These comments on humanity are completely over the line. I have passed burning vehicles on the highway and felt the heat knowing that a huge explosion is quite possible. So for these writers to condemn people for not stopping is the height of idiocy.
I agree! It was obviously written to elicit negative emotions which in turn lead to negative comments. I’m so tired of the constant rant that “people are bad”…it simply isn’t true! The actual “experiences” shared by readers in the “comments” were by far more beneficial and appreciated!
24 years ago I saw a motorcycle laying on its side on the side of the road along a river in CA. I figured the guy was fly fishing and his bike fell over so I stopped to help. I looked down river and there were a couple of guys fishing but I figured they belonged to the car near them. I looked up river and saw a guy face down in the river. Uh oh. So I climbed down the embankment to check it out and lifted his head out of the water by his collar. The hole in his forehead where his head hit a rock on the way down pretty much confirmed things. I laid him back down, climbed the embankment and flagged the first car which stopped. The CHP was there shortly but this was CA not AR.
Thank you for trying to help, Dave. Remember the old saying, “We’re all in this together”? Sure doesn’t seem to be that way anymore, thanks to electronics and social media. Now it’s me, me, me. Sad. Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
We were in a rest area in Washington state when the RV next to us caught on fire. We left we did not want that RV, exploding and catching our RV on fire. RVs go up in seconds and they were running out with their animals. It scared us.
Years ago – in 2017 – we totaled a motorhome because of a blow out. Lots of folks stopped, first to help us get out, take our dogs as we handed them out, bring the dogs and us fresh cold water, and more. All stayed until first responders showed up, several were trained enough to evaluate us for immediate first aid if needed. They were wonderful – very much unlike those who drove past this. I think the comments reflect the changed attitudes we see often in this world. These are not folks who run into burning houses to save children, these are folks that think their safety and well being is paramount. No one knows if there were children, pets, or even an invalid spouse inside that RV. Sad…
Absolutely agree with your comment. We have noticed the (truly sad) change in humans today compared to just 5-7 years ago.
Did you ever try to put out a fire, especially with the LITTLE 2bc extinguisher they have to put in your rig
forget about it A real joke
I don’t think anyone expects passerby’s to put out a RV fire. What does seem reasonable is someone stopping to at least see if a person(s) is hurt or may need assistance. There are several cases of people helping other people get out of a burning vehicle. I would hope that the passerby’s, at the very least, called 911. But wouldn’t it be really sad if a first responder (a passerby) could have maybe saved a life but didn’t?
Timing is everything in this situation. You can only help in the first few minutes (as one should if thay have a fire extinguisher), after that it’s extremely dangerous and a job for the professionals. I’m glad to see the owner had the presence of mind to get his toad disconnected and out of the way.
Obviously this incident was really bad – however, it could have also touched off another forest fire! With the number of Rv fires in the US – I have read here at around 20,000 a year – it is way past time for the industry to get pro-active and install a fire suppression system in at least the engine bay – whether gas or diesel and also around the propane tank which, for whatever reason, seem to be the most prevalent areas. A range hood or battery bay may be other areas of concern. I would trade a lounge chair or a dishwasher for an effective fire suppression system!!!
PS: North Dakota has a “Good Samaritan” law. So, stop and render whatever assistance you may be able to – just get as far off the road as possible and light it up with flashers or whatever. NDHP will be by within about :10 to :45 minutes! Stop the bleeding, keep warm and be alert for fire. CPR if able or necessary. No fear of making a mistake under duress and rendering assistance!
I was a tanker driver for 30 years. Early in my career I did stop to help whenever possible. I changed a few tires, called for help on my CB radio, and once gave a stranded driver a ride to a gas station, and other numerous occasions.
In the mid 1990’s my company issued a notice that we were no longer permitted to stop for any reason to help stranded motorists. It was too much of a liability for the company and a violation would result in termination. No more being a knight for damsels in distress! That’s probably the reason you no longer see trucks stopping along the highway offering assistance.
Thank you for sharing your experience…sad commentary…I miss “knights”
I fortunately or unfortunately have been first on the scene of 6 life threatening or life taking accidents. All prior to cell phones. I did what I had to do. Now this old slow body has been told and has realized that I can get in the way rather than be really useful. Some people don’t have what it takes to deal with emergencies. Let them pass by and get out of the way. Don’t judge the actions or inactions of others or the possible actions they may have taken but went unnoticed. The last two hurricanes have proven that people from near and far come to the aid of people they don’t know. Thank You, to the people that came from Ohio and California to dig out my neighborhood in Florida.
So sad for these RVers. Were they heading home from vacation? Were they traveling to watch a grandson’s high school/college football game? We don’t know. My wife and I would have stopped, to render any aid we could. It might not have been much more than a shoulder to cry on.
On a side note. It’s hard to tell if the fire was from the rear engine bay, or from a inner dual tire. Have seen both over the years.
Your shoulder would be in the way of those qualified to really help.
I would have called 911. I might have assisted the injured if not too close. Otherwise I’m unqualified and un-equipped to help. That’s not “bad” but realistic.
Thank you, Russ and Tina! Tragic event. Yes, could have stopped to offer encouragement, but not much else. Given the size of the fire, using on-board fire extinguishers might have been as little help as spitting into the ocean. It certainly is a different day and time than it once was; some good and some bad. Have a great week and safe travels