The Goodness of America
Payback Time
In a heartwarming story of bravery and gratitude, a man from Tomball, Texas, is repaying a life-saving act that a stranger performed for him just a few months earlier. Bryan Pederson, who was involved in a harrowing accident on May 16, has been vocal about how a single mother’s selflessness changed his life.
On that fateful day, Pederson was caught in a severe storm and waiting at a traffic light when an enormous oak tree suddenly fell, crushing his SUV. Pederson recalls how terrifying those moments were, trapped inside and struggling to breathe. “I thought it was the end,” he shared with PEOPLE on August 23. His wife, who was on the phone with him at the time, urged him to stay calm and find a way to breathe.
As Pederson waited for help, he noticed that many cars drove past the scene without stopping. However, one driver, Veronica Marin, was different. The single mother of three was on the road with her children when she witnessed the accident. Without hesitation, Marin parked her car and rushed to Pederson’s aid. “I see the tree fall on the truck,” Marin later told KHOU, expressing disbelief at how other cars turned away. Driven by instinct, she sprang into action, determined to help a stranger.
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