BY JEFF BRANSCOME
THE FREE LANCE-STAR

Spotsylvania County firefighters and local businesses donated money and time to a family that was in an accident on Interstate 95, a county spokeswoman said.
The family—a husband and wife, their two children and 3-year-old grandchild— was traveling south near Thornburg last week when their truck, which was pulling a camper, overturned.
The husband had been unemployed for some time, and was heading from Connecticut to Florida for a new job, Spotsylvania spokeswoman Kathy Smith said. The family had less than $200 for gas.
Lt. Aaron Lovell and career firefighters Adam Barnette and Charles Springman responded to the crash from a station near Thornburg and pitched in for a $150 Master Card gift card for the family. Volunteer firefighters also donated a gift basket with toiletries.
The accident occurred about 6 a.m. last Friday after the driver slammed on the brakes and his truck and camper jackknifed, said state police Trooper Lannie Batten. A vehicle may have cut him off, he said.
Fire Capt. Vernon Crandall made several calls to help the travelers, Smith said.
A recruit coordinator for the Fire Training Academy brought a van to transport the family, and a fire department lieutenant left a training class to deliver a baby seat. Lew’s Auto Service and Salvage and Chew’s Used Auto Parts towed the vehicles and Lew’s fixed the truck—all at a reduced cost.
“In fact, they got the truck running so that the family could resume their trip to the job waiting for the father in Florida,” Smith said in an email.
Lovell contacted a nearby Quality Inn last Friday and paid for the family’s room at a discounted rate of $30. Miller Mart provided $50 worth of food, and a Dairy Queen donated two $25 gift cards when it learned about the family’s plight through fire and rescue personnel.
“We just did what was right—plain and simple,” Lovell said. “They were a great family and they just needed a little bit of help.”
“I’ve never seen such compassion,” said Melissa Blackington, a towing and recovery operator for Lew’s Auto Service and Salvage.
Before departing, the family stopped by Thornburg Fire Station 8 to thank those who helped them, Smith said.
“They even stated that if the weather was warmer here, they would move to Spotsylvania because the people they had met were so gracious to them,” she said.