A mobile mechanic helping a stranded man on a highway in Chicago is earning high praise on social media, especially since he refused to accept money for the help.
But when the driver insisted, the mechanic accepted the payment out of respect. Users on X, however, were divided, with some saying he should have refused the money while others argued he had earned it.
Regardless of the debate, the clip highlights how the stranded driver received help after spending more than an hour on the freeway because his rear wheel wouldn’t come off while he was on his way to a friend’s birthday party.
With a tow truck estimated to arrive in over an hour, the arrival of a mobile mechanic with a fully stocked trunk of tools was a “godsend,” according to the driver.
Help Arrived on Time
The video, posted on X by Body Cam Cops, shows the mobile mechanic approaching a driver stranded on the side of the freeway. The man was talking on the phone beside his vehicle, which needed its rear-right tire replaced.
After hearing his ordeal, the mobile mechanic opened the trunk of his Honda Civic to retrieve his tools, which were neatly arranged. Every inch of space had been put to good use inside the trunk.
Getting to work, the mobile mechanic first used his jack to lift the vehicle but noticed that the rear wheel was stuck, a problem that the driver was unable to address. The mechanic then released the parking brake and hit the stuck wheel with a spare tire until it loosened and came off.
The mechanic then bolted on the spare wheel in seconds, completing the entire job within five minutes. After finishing the job, he loaded the damaged tire into the vehicle’s trunk. The driver, meanwhile, was surprised it was all over in a jiffy after waiting more than an hour for a tow truck.
The driver offered to pay the mobile mechanic, who refused the payment since he had helped out of kindness. But the driver insisted on paying him because he believed the mechanic deserved the money.
He first handed him $40, then added another $10. When the mechanic introduced himself, the driver replied:
“Oh, are you!? Well, guess what? You’re a godsend.”
This gentleman is stuck on the side of the road for more than 1 hour trying to get his stuck wheel off of his car. He said another man stopped by but they didn’t get have any luck getting it off the vehicle. I’m not a very big person but I have few tricks in mind. Luckily, I did… pic.twitter.com/rWPTiyyYEh
— Body Cam Cops (@VnMn22019093) July 31, 2026
“Every Driver Knows How Relieving This Could Be”
Users in the comments section have reacted to the video, with some criticizing the mechanic for accepting the cash, while others said people like him made the world a better place. Some comments are shared below:
A user wrote:
“If mainstream media focused more on stories like this the world would be a better place.”
Another user wrote something similar:
“Finally content I don’t swipe away from. We need a lot more of this love.”
One user was disappointed because the mechanic accepted the money. They wrote:
“I’m disappointed you took the money. You did a “passing tow truck” on him. You ruined it for me. All the other no money times doesn’t count anymore. He genuinely feels he owes you. You should genuinely refuse.”
One user wrote:
“The relief 😮💨…. Every driver knows how relieving this could be for specially if you’ve been stuck for hours” [sic]
A user wrote he was looking for mobile mechanics:
“Where are these mobile mechanics ?? I would love to give them my business.”
Little details matter. One user wrote:
“Nice that he took his gloves off momentarily when he got inside the car. Maximum respect”
Another user commented:
“People saying he shouldn’t take the money – the man wanted to thank him. It’s OK if he took the money. He didn’t have to stop either. He was going to help for free, good man you”