ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — It was the “scariest moment of my entire life,” Sage Penland said of her crash on Riverside Drive earlier this month.
Penland, who works at a local salon, had gotten off work early that Wednesday afternoon (May 7) and was headed home to Leicester, taking the back way along the river.
“I was casually going down the road when my passenger side tire caught the edge of the road, where it was eroded from Hurricane Helene. I overcorrected over the double yellow lines. To avoid oncoming traffic, I overcorrected again, throwing my car into the ditch,” she said.
“There was no time for me to slow down, and I was headed straight for a telephone pole. I made a decision to attempt to get out of the ditch, which then flipped my car.”
Penland’s car came to a stop on its roof with her hanging upside down inside.
Penland said once she realized what had happened, she was terrified oncoming traffic would hit the car with her in it.
“Within seconds, a woman rushed to my driver’s side window, she got down on the ground, asked me if I was OK,” Penland said. “I was frantic and very scared. I asked her to hold my hand and she didn’t hesitate. Her face was the first thing I saw after such a traumatic experience, and I’ll forever remember her kindness.”
Unfortunately, Penland did not get to thank her at the scene.
“I was able to thank other people that helped me that day but haven’t been able to locate her,” she said. “I’d like to tell her how thankful I am that she was there in that very moment. She sprang into action and checked on me immediately and made a lasting impact on my life.”
Penlan posted about her crash on Facebook, thanking the woman and the men who got her out of her safely.
People commenting on the post called the mystery woman an angel. But she has yet to be identified.
“When I think about what happened that day, I remind myself how lucky I was to walk away with just scrapes and bruises and how lucky I was to have someone by my side so quickly. The simplest gesture of holding my hand gave me a sense of safety and grounded me from the chaos,” Penland said. “I want her to know just how appreciative I am of her presence that day.”
Penland also took the opportunity to remind people to be careful.
“It’s crucial to be mindful of our surroundings,” Penland said. “I’d also like to remind people that seatbelts save lives. Had I not worn mine, I might not be here today.”