Fuel costs pinch roadside rescue man

Thomas Weller, who has volunteered to rescue stranded motorists since 1966, recently cut back on the number of runs he makes due to high gas prices.

SAN DIEGO – Christin Ernst was in a fix. An errant screwdriver punctured her tire on a San Diego freeway, leaving her stranded.

That’s when Thomas Weller


She was fortunate. Because of wallet-busting fuel prices, Weller has had to cut back his good Samaritan runs to once every three days. Weighing more than 5,600 pounds, Weller’s aging rescue rig is a world-class gas-guzzler.

“I sit home on the front porch a lot,” he said. “It’s killing me.”

Weller isn’t alone. High gas prices are forcing potential do-gooders of all kinds to stay home.

Meals on Wheels and other services that depend on volunteer drivers have had to scale back. In a June survey of US groups that serve the elderly, more than 70 percent said fuel costs had made it harder to recruit and retain volunteers.

Christian Science Monitor