Being a good neighbor

Stepfather and stepson join together to save family

There is no ill-will between Brady Coker and his stepfather Stanley Rauch.

While the two live in a step-family relationship, they get along and understand one another. It's best that way, Rauch said.

The two created an unbreakable bond a few days after Christmas last year, when they joined hands to become heroes.

Rauch said the family left for Denver, Colo., via Spokane, in snowy weather and returned home with the same. After lunch in Ritzville, Rauch and family started back on the freeway, too fast for the conditions, Rauch said, but not as fast as those driving around him.

It was the perfect situation for an accident — icy roads, aggressive drivers and heavy traffic headed home after the Christmas break.

But everything that was about to take place happened earlier for Coker, while celebrating the holidays in Denver.

"I had a dream that I was assisting in a car crash," Coker said. "In my dream, I was too scared to help because of what I would see."

He kept the dream to himself, not wanting to make too big of a deal of his "vision." But, the vision came flooding back as the family neared Moses Lake, returning home from their peaceful vacation.

Rauch said a Ford Bronco passed him on I-90, followed closely by another car. The Bronco suddenly turned and headed for the ditch.

Coker said the fiberglass back flew off the Bronco as it flipped into the ditch, exposing everyone inside. Rauch pulled over and tried to tell Coker to keep in the car while he checked out the scene.

"As I was grabbing my coat, Brady was just headed out the door," Rauch added.

For Coker, it was a chance to redeem himself in reality as he'd been unable to do in his recent dream. "I felt like I needed to be a good Samaritan, and I was disappointed that I was a wuss in the dream," Coker said.

Rauch said he approached the car to find the mother shaken up by what happened, but needing her two saviors. Her husband, daughter and son were traveling with her. Coker immediately went to the little girl to give her assistance.

He held her to keep her warm in the 30-degree weather until another Suburban showed up; its passengers offered to the girl with them until paramedics arrived.

Coker brought back a sweatshirt for the boy, who was bleeding and immobile — a move paramedics later said would save the boy's life.

Coker and Rauch went to check on the father, who died before they got to him.

"For a kid who turned 17, he got his eyes full," Rauch said about his stepson.

Rauch said there wasn't hesitation in his decision to stop because he had been there before. He knew what it was like for others to drive by when he was in need on the side of the road.

But, for Coker and Rauch, the reason to stop had a much higher responsibility attached to it.

"The good Lord said go and do it," Rauch said. "A good citizen should go and do it because so many would just drive by."

The relationship between stepfather and stepson grew a little on a day when the two helped a family distraught and in need.

Rauch said he had to set the example for his stepson and show the importance of helping those in need. He said it could have been easier to keep driving and allow the next person to help, but he also knew how his influence would affect Coker.

"I think it is the duty of the parent to teach your kids right from wrong and have compassion for others," Rauch said.

For a 17-year-old senior in high school, life changed that day.

"I took from that experience to take life day by day and think of it as a blessing," Coker said.

Since that day, Coker and Rauch have gone on with their lives without a pat on the back, no rewards or ceremonies. There hasn't been a parade or memorial set up in their names, but that's OK.

"Jamie (Rauch's wife) and I got a verbal thank you from the mother for helping and that is OK," Rauch said.