Single father critically injured in crash gets some needed help
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PUYALLUP, Wash. -- A nasty crash on the first day of school in September left the driver of a stolen car dead and a father of four badly injured.
Time has helped heal Robert Bentz, and so has the generosity of KOMO viewers.
"(The car) came at us so fast we didn't have time to react on anything," Bentz said. "It just flashes so fast and I thought I was pretty much dead."
A stolen car on the wrong side of the road crashed head-on with a single father of four driving his son to school in a pickup.
The recovery has been painful: A fractured back, broken leg, broken ankle, broken jaw, torn artery, and internal bleeding. And it's been expensive.
KOMO viewers have already donated more than $3,000 for his bills, but when Bentz gets back to his construction work, he'll need a pickup. His old one is history.
Thursday, with Robert up and moving around, Chevrolet of Puyallup stepped up big-time. They gave Bentz a 2003 Chevy Avalanche.
Bentz just had seven teeth pulled Wednesday, so his body is still a work in progress. But today, his heart was full, knowing he's got wheels again.
And you, or generous viewers, threw in a little gas money.
It's been a rough go for Bentz and his family, but a new pickup will make the going a little easier from here on out.
Thursday morning, the Snohomish County Red Cross honored Bentz as a hero because at the instant of the accident, he turned his pickup so that his side of the truck would take the hit, and not the side that his son Rody was riding in.
Time has helped heal Robert Bentz, and so has the generosity of KOMO viewers.
"(The car) came at us so fast we didn't have time to react on anything," Bentz said. "It just flashes so fast and I thought I was pretty much dead."
A stolen car on the wrong side of the road crashed head-on with a single father of four driving his son to school in a pickup.
The recovery has been painful: A fractured back, broken leg, broken ankle, broken jaw, torn artery, and internal bleeding. And it's been expensive.
KOMO viewers have already donated more than $3,000 for his bills, but when Bentz gets back to his construction work, he'll need a pickup. His old one is history.
Thursday, with Robert up and moving around, Chevrolet of Puyallup stepped up big-time. They gave Bentz a 2003 Chevy Avalanche.
Bentz just had seven teeth pulled Wednesday, so his body is still a work in progress. But today, his heart was full, knowing he's got wheels again.
And you, or generous viewers, threw in a little gas money.
It's been a rough go for Bentz and his family, but a new pickup will make the going a little easier from here on out.
Thursday morning, the Snohomish County Red Cross honored Bentz as a hero because at the instant of the accident, he turned his pickup so that his side of the truck would take the hit, and not the side that his son Rody was riding in.
Way to go Harnish Team, You made Puyallup proud. and that is one Christmas gift for that injured Dad. I hope he gets back to work soon. Great Job :D
Way to go Shannon, Matt, Gary and the whole Harnish Team. Your kindness and generousity will be felt thru-out the community for your kind deeds. I dont think you could have picked a more deserving guy to help out this holiday season! Good Job!!
That's so generous of the car dealership! Â I'm glad I have uninsured driver and all types of good insurance on my car, not that they'd replace it at full value, but at least I'd have some type of car.Â
Can't say I've had a bad day after reading that. What a lot to go through.Â
He should be so proud of himself. His children are so very lucky to have such a devoted father.
That's a real man right there. I hope the POS thief's family/estate can pay for all that turmoil and hurt.