A little before 11pm on Monday, February 24, 2020, I got a flat tire on my way to work on the 91W, going to Torrance from Norwalk.
I initially called Honda Roadside Assistance because we have coverage with them, and their number was plastered on my driver side window. While the call to them and the assignment of a driver to me was easy and quick, their ETA to me would be well over an hour. The driver assigned to me was coming from Lawndale, and I was somewhere in Northeast Carson.
I was already late for work, and I didn't want to be even later, so I cancelled Honda Roadside Assistance and called AAA instead.
Ms. Angela started the call with asking if I was in a safe place, which was actually very comforting to hear, as I was scared and paranoid of being in an unfamiliar area by myself. Everything went uphill after that. I received a text message confirming a driver would be dispatched to me even as I was on the phone with Ms. Angela. I was told that Falcon Towing would be dispatching a driver, which was great, because (from a previous incident) I knew where they were coming from and they were relatively close by.
I received a voicemail from Ms. Roxana, as a confirmation of what service was needed and what my exact location was. I called her back and she answered quickly, and she told me that someone was on their way.
Mr. Juan G. arrived within 20 minutes of me calling AAA. It was perfect timing, because the business that I was parked next to, all of their employees had left for the night (11:30pm), so, except for the passing cars and trucks on the street, I was the only vehicle there.
Mr. Juan worked quickly and efficiently, and did not seem bothered at all that I had no idea where my spare tire was kept. When he arrived, I was frantically reading through my vehicle handbook trying to school myself of my spare tire.
I remained in my vehicle as Mr. Juan changed my tire. Afterwards, he explained to me that the spare had limitations on it's use, that I shouldn't drive long distances and I should not drive over 50mph with it, and that my vehicle would have crazy warning lights pertaining to the tire. I had four different warning lights on, and that alone would have freaked me out, but thankfully it was explained to me that that is "normal".
Mr. Juan placed my flat tire in the back of the vehicle and returned everything to its original spot from where the spare was taken. He also noticed that the spare was on the flat side, so he added some air to the spare tire.
I had a few phone calls to make to work and to my husband, so I stayed parked for a while. I'm not sure if Mr. Juan was finishing up his paperwork at the same time, but he stayed parked behind me until I drove away. Even if it wasn't intentional, thank you for staying, Mr. Juan G. I'm a little more anxious these days, and you helped make a very stressful situation a little less stressful.
I ended up driving home afterwards, just to stay on the safer side.
Thank you to AAA and to Falcon Towing and to Mr. Juan G.!!! read more