Page 29 - AAA Every Day – AAA Hudson Valley – March/April 2022

COMMUNITY BUZZ
Stranded on I-95:
A 39-Hour Long Adventure
James Murphy
When winter rears its icy head,
it can catch us at the most inopportune times. Recently, one of our very own members found himself in a nightmarish situation while headed to
his winter home in sunny Florida. James Murphy, 93, decided to drive down the east coast instead of taking a train (which
Shutterstock: Frederic Legrand Comeo
immediately sense the fear in Kathleen’s voice. “With the overnight tie-up, everyone was trying to find a place to rest. I knew our biggest challenge would be finding him someplace to stay. Once we had that secured, then we could plan from there,” said Stott
With the help of AAA Travel Agent Johnna Eurich, Stott found a hotel room at a nearby conference
center where Murphy would be able to get a warm, good night’s sleep before attempting to take on the
rest of his journey. Others who helped Murphy get to
his hotel safely included a local radio traffic reporter, a Warrenton, Virginia, police officer and four hotel staffers, as well as one who went above and beyond to find him after determining he was hopelessly lost. After resting overnight, Murphy got back in his car and took off on the new route mapped out by Stott, which was slightly longer, but avoided I-95. He eventually made it to Florida where he reported that he was doing fine and that the weather was nice.
AAA reminds you to keep emergency items in your car in case you find yourself in a similar situation. Always be sure to have a car charger for your phone since we rely so heavily on them these days. Other recommended items include jumper cables, extra windshield washer fluid, a first aid kit, an emergency blanket and extra beverages and snacks. Necessary items may vary depending on the season, but it’s important to be prepared, especially when taking a long trip.
he would usually do) and got stuck in a traffic jam that did not move ... for more than 17 hours. The standstill was caused by a sudden ice storm which dropped about 12 inches of snow and overwhelmed the removal crews. Most people in this situation would panic. Murphy was not alone in the gridlock, but he was alone in his car. Hundreds of other motorists were trapped and traffic was backed up for miles. Somehow, Murphy kept calm while listening to classic show tunes and intermittently turning off his car to conserve gas.
After his daughter Kathleen caught wind of the situation, she was worried about her father, especially since she had no way to get to him from where she was in New York City. He was stuck in traffic on Interstate 95 in Northern Virginia with no cellphone car charger or ability to track
his location. Kathleen got on the phone to try and assist her father, and with the help of several people including AAA Hudson Valley’s own Albany Branch Manager Angela Stott, she was able to get help to her dad.
When Stott spoke to Kathleen on the phone, she could
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