Community Corner

Phoenix UPS Driver Helps Woman In Wheelchair Cross Busy Street

A Phoenix UPS driver's swift action helped a wheelchair-bound woman escape a busy intersection unscathed.

A UPS driver in Phoenix is being hailed as a hero after he helped a woman in a wheelchair cross a busy street just as the light rail was coming.
A UPS driver in Phoenix is being hailed as a hero after he helped a woman in a wheelchair cross a busy street just as the light rail was coming. (David Allen/Patch)

PHOENIX — A Phoenix UPS driver's quick thinking is proof that a small act of kindness can make a big difference.

Ken Westbrook was driving a UPS truck near 32nd Street and Washington Street and waiting to make a left turn when he saw a wheelchair-bound woman struggling to cross the street.

"I just saw this little lady in a wheelchair struggling to get across the crosswalk," Westbrook told Arizona's Family. She was teetering a little too close to the light rail tracks after getting off of a bus, he said.

Find out what's happening in Phoenixfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

"When she got about half-way, I was tempted to open the door and help her and then she stopped right near the light rail tracks," said Westbrook.

She appeared to be lost and the light rail was coming, so the driver jumped into action. He quickly got out of his truck, stopped at a red light, and helped the woman out of harm's way.

Find out what's happening in Phoenixfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

"If they thought they could get past her and couldn't, they would have hit her wheelchair," said Westbrook.

An employee at a nearby business snapped a picture of Westbrook's good deed. No one was surprised that the driver was the one responsible for the life-saving action.

"If the world was filled with Kens, there wouldn't be problems," said Glenn from Red Cat Racing, located near the intersection.

Read more about Westbrook at Arizona's Family.

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