Wrong number still works out right for stroke victim, 1300 miles away

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: Daily Blotter

(Credit: CBS)

(CBS/AP) CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio. - A woman who called the wrong number while suffering a stroke somehow still wound up dialing the right number.

We'll explain.

Cuyahoga Falls resident Loretta Smith felt her right side go numb and fell to the floor the weekend before last. The 70-year-old Smith said she was able to grab the phone with her left hand, and thought she was calling her son.

But Smith was really was one digit off, and instead a man in the Denver area, some 1,300 miles away, picked up her call. Turns out he was originally from northeast Ohio, and had kept the same number after he moved.

"It was a woman, and she said 'I may be having a stroke," said Kenny Crater, 28. He asked for her name and address and offered to get help. His 911 call was answered by Colorado police who transferred his call back to Ohio.

Loretta Smith was rushed to the hospital where it was determined that she had suffered a mini-stroke.

Smith said Carter saved her life. "I want this kid to be praised to high heaven," she said.

Crater humbly took it all in stride.

"I didn't save her," he said. "She found me."

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by pandamonium71 February 6, 2012 6:16 PM EST

that's wonderful! good man! and yet I came from the story of the teen girl who strangled and slit the little's girl throat and put it was "ahmazing" to do, in her diary. so there's good and evil in this world. young man - you are good! Jesus Loves You for helping the stroke victim.

JOHN 3:16 WHO-SO-EVER

great bumper sticker I saw about the lack of support from the tea party on jobs -

http://www.zazzle.com/gop_2012_keeping_millions_out_of_work_to_put_one_bumper_sticker-128944374900409113?rf=238107662556833486

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by sammie_c February 8, 2012 2:51 PM EST: Yep, just like jesus loves the little girl that Alyssa Bustamante slashed to death and just like jesus loves the elderly lady that had a stroke. Both "good" and "evil" exist in this world; however, they are simply manifestations of the human condition. I do applaud the man who took the elderly lady seriously and did what he could to ensure she received help.


by jrcolmena February 6, 2012 5:01 PM EST: hate to admit this, but I would probably have thought it was some kind of prank or scam and hang up. so many scams artist make people distrustful and selfish, good to hear some people are still good samaritans when they can; Reply to this comment


by democracy8 February 6, 2012 9:59 AM EST: I DO believe there are little angels in life.; Reply to this comment

by Zann-Zel February 6, 2012 9:34 AM EST

That's awesome! : )

I got a call once way down here in Texas from someone who said they were stuck in an elevator in the Sears tower in Chicago! I called the Chicago police...never heard what happened after that.

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by msay3 February 6, 2012 10:02 AM EST: You did the right thing :)


by Lawyers-Guns-n-Money06 February 6, 2012 10:23 AM EST: Meh, that's nothing. I once got a call from Prince Albert who said he was stuck in the can.