A simple drive home becomes a life-or-death struggle.The weather wasn’t great, but Bryan Pederson was just a few blocks from home on a street he had driven a thousand times. Still, the wind was howling and rain was pouring down. Sitting at a traffic light, he heard a loud crack. Instantly, he was trapped in a car being crushed by a tree.Ten cars drove past the scene, peering through the rain at the crumpled SUV and the tree blocking the road. Nine of them turned around and drove away. This is the story of the driver who didn’t: a single mom with three kids in the car. Later, Bryan would have an opportunity to thank her in an unexpected way.Also, we talk with David Bennett, a driving safety expert who explains the importance of your tires when it comes to making your vehicle “road ready.”Bryan Pederson and Veronica Marin have remained close friends.David Bennett is the manager of repair systems for AAA.
For more about the series, check out https://www.onstar.com/podcast.
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23:47
One Hug, Two Lives Changed
From a crowd of onlookers, one person steps forward to help.A teenage girl named Maddie walked to a highway overpass and stopped. As dozens of cars sped past, she climbed a railing, looked over the edge and considered stepping off. A few cars stopped then and people began to gather, but only person, David Johnson, sat down and talked to Maddie. That conversation led to a scream, a laugh and eventually a hug. This is the story of how someone was saved and someone else was changed.We also speak with Martha Thomas, the mother of a young woman who took her own life and the co-founder of an organization called “The Defensive Line.”Maddie is now in college and wants to work in the mental health field to help people who find themselves in a situation like hers.David Johnson is now a mental health counselor. (https://yourmindinmyhand.com/).Martha and Chris Thomas and their son Solomon Thomas, a defensive lineman in the NFL, have founded The Defensive Line. (https://thedefensiveline.org/) It is an organization focused on reducing stigma and creating connections to save young lives.
For more about the series, check out https://www.onstar.com/podcast.
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24:45
River Outing Takes a Twist
A leisurely float with friends nearly ends in tragedy.On a hot summer afternoon, Abi Sherman and some friends decided to cool off by floating down the Snoqualmie River in Washington. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, she had plenty of experience in rivers. This time, however, everything went wrong. Her tube got stuck on a stump and she slipped into the freezing cold water. Without a life jacket, she was unable to stay afloat in the fast-moving river and her friends were too far downstream to help. As she was tossed by rapids and smashed into rocks, a stranger came to her rescue.We also talk with Peg Phillips, a boat safety expert, about what you can do to stay safe in and around the water.Abi Sherman is now a high school special education teacher.Hannah Hailee is a counselor with Meadow Counseling.Peg Phillips is the executive director of the National Safe Boating Council.
For more about the series, check out https://www.onstar.com/podcast.
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24:41
Rescued From a Ravine
Social media comes to the rescue.Stacey Eno loves to travel. Her friend Mikey does too, and so they made plans to meet up and explore Bali. After settling into their hotel, they decided to take a scooter to the town of Ubud for dinner. As they returned to the hotel in the dark, they veered off the road and tumbled into a ravine. They were left there for hours, critically injured, unable to move. Mikey was, however, able to send a six-word Facebook post. That set in motion hundreds of people trying to help. In the end, it was the unrelenting effort of a freelance writer in the Poconos that led to their rescue.We also talk with world traveler Jessica Nabongo about what to do when things go wrong in a foreign country.Stacey Eno has resumed teaching and still loves traveling the world. Aimee Spevak is a freelance medical writer.Jessica Nabongo visited every country in the world by the age of 35. She is currently writing a cookbook of recipes from her travels.
For more about the series, check out https://www.onstar.com/podcast.
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29:45
From Tragedy, a Love Story
Something good emerges from something awful. Chantal Melanson was a country girl from Canada. Austin Monfort was a college student from California. They met at a country bar in Las Vegas the night before the Route 91 Harvest Festival. By the next day, they were living the plot of a romance novel until gunfire erupted. The mass shooting claimed the lives of 60 people. The story of how Chantal and Austin escaped, helping another along the way, is terrifying and, ultimately, heartwarming. We also talk to Daniel Ward, a crowd security expert about what you can do to stay safe when you go to a large event.WARNING: This episode describes gun violence and mass panic.------------------------------------------Chantal and Austin Monfort are happily raising their kids in Southern California.Daniel Ward is director of training and integrated systems at the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security.
For more about the series, check out https://www.onstar.com/podcast.
Every day we wake up not knowing exactly what will happen. A hike up a mountain or a float down a river can turn dangerous. A night out in a faraway land can end in the bottom of a ravine. A simple hug can save a life. And strangers can turn into heroes.
Tell Me What Happened, the award-winning original podcast by OnStar, returns for a fifth season of stories about people helping people. Each episode also includes a conversation with an expert to provide context and advice about what to do if you find yourself in a dangerous situation.
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