PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN 6) — When nearly the entire fleet of SAFE Transportation vehicles had its tires slashed, a local Firestone dealership stepped up to help.
SAFE Transportation uses their 30 vehicles to “transport autistic children, kids with severe emotional disorders, adults with development issues, and other patients to and from appointments,” said the agency’s Malcolm Ricks.
He said it’s more than a business, it’s a community service that helps make people’s lives better.
A total of 72 tires were slashed on 26 of their vehicles sometime over the weekend.
“It felt like I was punched in the gut,” he said.
But Nick Dunn, the store manager of Happy Valley Firestone, said that when he saw what happened he just had to help. He got Firestone to provide new tires, at cost, and tossed in free labor.
“I was watching the news yesterday morning and I heard where they are located and I thought, huh, that’s just a short drive up the freeway for me,” he told KOIN 6 News. “Today’s my day off, so I figured, hey, I can pop over here in the morning, get that done and help them out.”
The technicians at Happy Valley Firestone changed every tire for SAFE Transportation and the fleet is once again ready to roll.
“There are people out here that may disrupt the flow of life, but there are more people that are looking out to help one another,” Ricks said of Firestone’s generosity.
The investigation into the tire slashers continue. Anyone with information is asked to call Portland police at 503.823.3333.