Spilled hay draws good Samaritan efforts

HOUSTON -- Longtime Alaskans sometimes say the old-time ethic of helping others in need is gone. However, that wasn't the case Wednesday afternoon on the Parks Highway.

Mike Peterson was driving his Ram pickup truck north at Mile 66 about 2:45 p.m. after he and wife Jan had gotten 1,400 pounds of hay in Palmer. They were heading to their home on Willow Fishhook Road, where they own two horses, when something caused the big rolled bundle to fall from the truck and separate on the northbound lane.

Peterson pulled to a stop and hopped out as cars started backing up in the blocked lane. Peterson lifted big portions off the road but was making slow headway until two Wasilla women stopped to help.

Kathy Wagner was driving her friend Stephanie Flanders to the Willow post office, then on to Flanders' appointment to clean a residence. But all that could wait.

One helped push hay off the road with her foot while the other took a broom from the car and began sweeping the highway.

"It's a real mess," Wagner said. "You can't just leave somebody like this."

Peterson said the hay had been tied down with a rope. It was the first time he'd lost a load.

Someone loaned Jan Peterson a cellular phone so she could call one of their children to bring another truck and help haul the spilled hay. Traffic slowed in each direction as drivers and passengers rubber-necked at the unusual scene.

As Mike was cleaning, Jan chuckled about the incident as she sat in the truck with the couple's dog. She was able to find the positive in an otherwise aggravating situation by acknowledging the help they'd received.

"It makes you feel good," she said.