Stranded senior hiking group says 'thank you'

Editor:

Saturday evening, July 26, around 7 p.m., two tour buses were driving back to Louisville on I-71 South after a visit to Cincinnati’s Union Terminal Museum. On the way, the second bus began leaking antifreeze and had to stop just past Exit 44 at Carrollton. The passengers were a group of physically fit senior citizens, all members of the Second Saturday Serenity Hiking Club sponsored by Unity Church of Louisville.

Forty-five minutes away from the end of a perfect day, the group filed off the broken-down bus into the sweltering heat to stand on a patch of grass between the exit ramp guardrail and the whizzing traffic on I-71. A motorist stopped on the exit ramp with a case of bottled water to make the situation a little more tolerable.

While the drivers scurried around checking the equipment, the passengers became more and more unsettled and uncomfortable.

At this point, the group leader called 911 and the dispatcher sent emergency help right away. Upon arrival, [Carroll County Sheriff’s] Deputy J.T. Shaw immediately took charge of a chaotic and dangerous situation, and established order with the utmost professionalism and confidence.

Carroll County can be proud to have him represent their law enforcement department. Deputy Shaw arranged for the stranded group to be transported to the Days Inn by the Rev. Chris White, pastor of the Carrollton First Baptist Church, where they waited for another vehicle to transport them to Louisville.

A big “thank you” to Deputy Shaw and to the kind and caring people of Carrollton who saved the day for the Serenity Hikers.

Pat Taylor, Leader

Second Saturday Serenity Hikers.