Thomas Weller | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 25, 1947 |
| Years active | 1966-2017 |
Thomas Weller (born December 25, 1947), a.k.a. the San Diego Highwayman, is an American mechanic and nationally recognized Good Samaritan. His Highwayman moniker originated from a 1996 segment by CBS reporter Charles Kuralt.[1]
Weller began helping stranded motorists in 1966, two years after his car plowed into a snowbank in Illinois. A man saved Weller's life by pulling him out and asked Weller to pass on the favor as payment.[2]
His modified 1955 Ford station wagon, Beulah, is notable for its significant resemblance to the Ghostbusters vehicle Ecto-1.[3]
In April 2002, Autotrader.com arranged for Weller's fuel costs to be paid, but the coverage ended 17 months later due to budget cuts.[2]
Weller was featured on the front page of the Los Angeles Times on July 24, 2008.[2]
On August 10, 2011, Beulah was totaled in a freeway accident.[3] Weller could not afford to repair the station wagon, but in December 2014, a dedicated GoFundMe campaign raised over $10,000 to cover the cost.[1]
In March 2017, Weller suffered a minor stroke that partially paralyzed his left side. While still committed to helping those he encounters, he decided to end his regular freeway patrols.[4]
References
- 1 2 Hall, Matthew T. (30 January 2015). "The San Diego Highwayman helped stranded motorists for decades. Now, they help him". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
- 1 2 3 Douglass, Elizabeth (24 July 2008). "Really, he won't send you a bill". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
- 1 2 Hargrove, Dorian (23 August 2011). "The Highwayman's Rig: Totaled". San Diego Reader. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
- ↑ Bell, Diane (31 March 2017). "Stranded motorists lose longtime good Samaritan". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 17 December 2017.