Alert Motorist Heads Off Crisis
Beth McSwain near the location where she finally got the car to stop. Photo by Steve Bouser.
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All Beth McSwain could think Thursday morning was that something was wrong with the driver of the car in front of her and she needed to do something.
Little did she know that her decision to stop the car might have saved a woman’s life.
McSwain was on her way to work, driving down May Street about 7:30 a.m., when she noticed the car in front of her driving erratically. The car was swerving off the side of the road, slowing down and crossing the center line. Twice, the car pulled off the road and stopped.
“I pulled up beside the car, and I could see a woman inside,” McSwain said. “But then she would pull off again.”
The third time the woman pulled her car over, McSwain pulled in front of her car at an angle.
“I got out of my car,” McSwain later recalled when contacted by The Pilot, “and figured if she pulled off again she would have to stop or hit my car. I was afraid for her and other people she might encounter, especially if she made it out to U.S. 1. I just wanted to stop her from getting hurt.”
McSwain had noticed the car near May Street Market and had followed it out May Street for about a mile before finally getting the woman to stop on the stretch of road that runs alongside the Walthour-Moss Founda-tion.
When she approached the car, she could see that something didn’t look right with the driver. McSwain knocked on her window, got the woman to unlock the door, and she took the key out of the ignition.
“My husband was diabetic,” McSwain said, “and I was familiar with what someone looks like when their sugar dips. So I asked her if she was diabetic, and she nodded her head. She was having a hard time talking and seemed disoriented.”
McSwain works with exceptional students at STARS. Melanie Gee, a parent of a STARS student, recognized McSwain and stopped to assist. They looked in the woman’s purse and found a glucometer. They took a reading and found her blood sugar was 27, which is “dangerously low,” McSwain said.
McSwain had called 911 as soon as she noticed the car swaying back and forth in front of her and had stayed on the phone as she followed the car. When she realized the woman was possibly going into a diabetic shock, she and Gee relayed that information to the 911 operator.
Sheriff’s deputies and EMS personnel arrived on the scene shortly after. The woman was transported to the FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital’s emergency room, where she was treated and released.
McSwain’s exposure to diabetes, which came when her late husband had the disease, appeared to be a blessing in this situation.
“I never felt scared for myself,” she said, “I was more worried about the driver of the car and other people on the road. I was just somebody helping somebody out. I guess I was just put in the right place at the right time. Maybe that was the reason I was behind her today.”
Although sheriff’s Chief Deputy Neil Godfrey acknowledged that Mc-Swain’s actions might “have saved this woman’s life and somebody else’s,” he ex-pressed a note of caution.
“I wouldn’t encourage the public to do something like this,” he said, “but in this instance it turned out to be a good thing because it was a medical situation. As an everyday occurrence, however, it is a better idea to let an officer who is trained make this kind of stop.”
Contact Hunter Chase at hchase@thepilot.com.
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Comments
kgirl 2 years, 5 months ago
Wow. Much praise to both Beth and Melanie, we need more people like you to care about others.
Scoot 2 years, 5 months ago
God working through his people..............what a miracle!!
Bflat 2 years, 5 months ago
Wonderful story with a happy ending. Waiting for an officer to arrive to take care of it might have been too late.
sfavela 2 years, 5 months ago
God put you where you needed to be. He knew you'd do the right thing. Angels truly walk amongst us.
girlymonster 2 years, 5 months ago
Thank you Mrs. McSwain! You are a hero - so selflessly putting yourself out there to protect everyone on the streets and help the diabetic driver!
LisaKivett 2 years, 5 months ago
What a blessing these two ladies are! Its refreshing to know that there are people like them out there! Willing to help a complete stranger.
~ A community is like a ship; everyone ought to be prepared to take the helm. ~ Henrik Ibsen
jamjam 2 years, 5 months ago
why is it when a person does what a person does someone gives god the credit? cant people be good fot the sake of being good?
teufelhunden 2 years, 5 months ago
Because God IS good my dear jam jam. And yes she did a good deed because she's probably a good person.
JAP 2 years, 5 months ago
If she is a good person, what does it matter if "God" is good. I'm sure there are good people who don't believe in "God".
fugitiveguy 2 years, 5 months ago
" I'm sure there are good people who don't believe in "God"."
Of course there are, they are the ones who do not believe but don't feel the need to ridicule when a believer gives credit to God when something good happens.
theonewithsense 2 years, 5 months ago
I think it's cool that God only does good stuff.
Ross 2 years, 5 months ago
Must be that "ol devil" that does the "bad" stuff..........too funny!
Ross 2 years, 5 months ago
Now - if God is responsible for the "good" stuff and the "devil" is responsible for the bad stuff.........then I wonder just what am "I" responsible for?
Life - is so puzzling at times!
Flabbergasted 2 years, 5 months ago
God should of been watching over her and made sure her blood sugar level was fine, or made sure she had her insulin. Im glad she's ok!
runorbike 2 years, 5 months ago
Well, back to the original story line, thanks you Ms. McSwain. Your intervention stopped a possible catastrophe for the sick driver of the other car and possibly other drivers.
MikeNC 2 years, 5 months ago
Good job Beth McSwain. If I should have some sort of problem, I hope I can have someone like you around to help me out. I know that lady and her loved ones are certainly grateful for all you did. Thanks for caring! Mike
Flabbergasted 2 years, 5 months ago
We all have our Guardian Angels and you were truly hers that day. You should be commended! Kudos
Truth 2 years, 5 months ago
Ross, You are responsible for the one with whom you cooperate. God or the Devil (evil).