James Welty lives in a small town with a magnificent view. Florence, Ore., less than a half-mile from the Pacific Ocean and an hour west of Eugene, provides a wealth of activities to keep the 80-year-old busy. And sometimes, seemingly ordinary days keep him busier than expected.

Recently, Welty was pulling into the parking lot of a local grocery store when he witnessed an older woman with an armful of groceries step off the curb, trip, and fall, injuring herself.

A couple of things pass through your mind in those moments, Welty says. For about a second, you consider not getting involved. “But you realize you’re the only one there. You’re selected to help,” he says.

So, Welty positioned his 2005 Chevrolet Silverado to prevent the injured woman from being hit by any vehicles in the lot. Then, he pushed the red Emergency button⁷ to get help. While he comforted the woman, the Advisor relayed information to the store manager via the truck until an emergency medical crew arrived.

“The OnStar Advisors are very official,” he says. “They guide you right through the process. It’s all very efficient.”

That wasn’t the only time this Good Samaritan used OnStar to help a person in need.

A month later, Welty was driving on a foggy day when he saw an elderly woman walking down the narrow shoulder and wandering in and out of traffic as if she were disoriented. “You could tell her mobility was hampered,” he says.

This story, written for OnStar, was originally published at experienceonstar.com. Read the full story here:  https://www.experienceonstar.com/view/good-samaritan-selected-to-help