You could call it a twist of fate or perhaps a fortunate accident. But Caressa Jones says if she hadn't been run over by her own car last year, she wouldn't have the new van she so desperately needs and she wouldn't know how many people in the community care.
"It's amazing because you think there are no good people anymore and there actually are a lot more than you think," she said.
Jones, a single mother of five, had been forced to crawl under her old car with an ice pick to get it started — her temporary solution to a broken starter. But, in November of last year her daily routine went horribly wrong.
"I forgot to put it in park and I went under there and left it in drive and I went under to start it again and it started and it just ran me over," she said.
Jones was rushed to the hospital in serious condition. Getting around on foot still requires a walker, but getting around town will be a lot easier for her now thanks the members of the community and the Cars 4 Christmas program.
"This is a year-long program and when there is a special need that comes up in the community, we try to fill that need," said Darrell Rankin with All Parts Auto Salvage. "And this was one that was brought to our attention and we thought it was a worthy cause."
"I've got kids in two different schools and they've got activities and it's going to be able to get us to do everything we need to do," said Jones.
It's something most parents take for granted that Jones is now just thankful she'll be able to provide.
"I appreciate everything I'm given now," she said, "It's saving our butts."
"It makes all the time and effort just seem like nothing," Rankin said. "It makes you feel really good inside."
