FALL RIVER: The kindness of Robin McElroy won’t soon be forgotten by Fred Crooks and his family.
Crooks was driving an asphalt sealing truck with a trailer which had a passenger when he didn’t see the stop sign at the end of Waterford Crescent and drove through it. In the process they were hit by a septic truck that was driving up Ingram Drive.
VIDEO: Robin talks about her Good Samaritran deed
What Robin, 11, did next left Crooks and his family very grateful, even if Robin thinks the gesture was no big deal.
After taking both the family’s dogs—Willow and Sooty—for walks, Robin returned to the accident scene tip toeing down from her home on Waterford Crescent with a glass of water and two granola/chocolate bars for Crooks.
“It was a hot day so I thought he would appreciate some water,” said Robin.
She was unaware there was a second man in the truck, or she said she would have brought something for them too.
Chelsea Crooks, Fred’s daughter, made a post on social media in an attempt to reach the little girl. And it quickly did after a local couple were tagged in one of the post shares.
Robin said her mom and dad have always preached about being helpful. That’s exactly what she did.
“My parents always taught me to be the kindest person that I can be. I thought that was a good way of expressing it,” she said.
Fred Crooks said he had been by the truck and trailer for a time while many other cars went by without stopping.
“She didn’t care what colour I was or how haggard I might have looked, that little girl’s main concern was getting me a drink of water and something to eat,” said Crooks. “To have her come down and caring about me, it was touching.”
He said as Robin walked down all you could see was a big smile and bright blue eyes.
“This little girl went all the way home and came back with water and treats for me,” he said. “It tells me that her parents are doing something right.
“She didn’t know if I was the bogeyman, from the moon or planet Mars. But all she cared about was that I had something to drink and eat.”
The Crooks family have dubbed Robin their “little hero.” She doesn’t think of it that way.
“I just did what any person should do,” said Robin.
Her kindness has lit up Facebook with posts commending her and people saying how sweet she is.
“It’s kind of cool I guess,” said Robin about her gesture going viral. “If something like that happened again, I would do it again. I wouldn’t think twice.”