Trash man saves man, 91, in wheelchair

SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (WISH) - Trash truck driver Levi Riddle only picks up the trash at 91-year-old William Eberhart's Shelbyville home every other week. This was the right week.

Eberhart was stuck in his electric wheelchair in a mound of snow at the end of his slick driveway, behind his trash dumpster. 23-year-old driver Riddle saw the elderly man just before attaching his truck to the dumpster — a blow that could have killed Eberhart.

The elderly man was outside for about 2 ½ hours stuck in the snow. He originally ventured outside because he thought he accidentally threw away some important medicine.

“I looked in my rear view mirror and I saw something. Thank God I saw him, and got out and saved him from the snow. It was covering his mouth and feet and hands. He could have died,” said Riddle.

When Eberhart got stuck his medical alert didn’t work, and he left his cell phone on the kitchen table.

“There are a lot of people in this world who would not help someone, especially if they are in need,” Eberhart said. “He saved my life.”

Riddle says he plans to check up on Eberhart regularly when he stops at his farm home.

Eberhart tells 24-Hour News 8 in all his 91 years, timing has really never mattered so very much.