A broken-down car at the side of the road and two powerful men standing next to it caught my attention one evening as I was traveling home down an empty road: I wanted to stop and help at first, but then I saw something that made my blood freeze, so I fled in fear 
I was on my way home from work. The streets were mostly empty, and a snowfall was blowing in outside. Before I noticed a car parked directly in the middle of the road with its headlights still on, everything appeared to be as usual. I was thinking about the evening and getting home before the weather deteriorated. Two big men were standing next to it, seemingly waiting for someone.
On the surface, it appeared to be a normal roadside scene: a car had broken down and someone needed assistance. Such incidents are common, and every driver is aware that you should stop and aid if you can.
I typically do that as well, but right then, a weird, shuddering intuition awoke within of me—a soft voice urging, “Don’t stop.”I attempted to ignore it since I still wanted to help. I slowed down, changed gears, checked my reflection, and was ready to use the brakes when I noticed something that made a big difference.
I was frightened by what I saw. I may still be alive today because I saw the danger in time and didn’t stop, but I ignored the men’s cries for assistance and slammed on the throttle and sped away as quickly as I could.
I’m telling you this story to caution you: if you encounter something like this while traveling on an empty road, proceed with caution… 
I could see a woman’s face inside the car, lit by the dashboard light. She appeared scared at first, but then I saw a small, icy smile that bordered on mockery; this wasn’t the face of someone who was actually in need of assistance.
There were a number of hard things that resembled baseball bats on the passenger seat, along with coiled ropes. Those things weren’t just lying around.
The men by the hood turned to me and gestured for me to halt, but their eyes were forced and produced, and there was no sign of desperation. I understood then that this was not a breakdown. It was a trap.
My hands went white on the steering wheel, my heart constricted, and I made the one choice that may have saved my life: I didn’t stop.
Because compassion may have cost me my life that night, I didn’t give myself a second’s doubt or misdirected compassion before I slammed on the throttle and sped away without turning around.
This is a frequent ploy, I learned later: thieves pose as having car difficulties, and when someone stops to help, they attack, tie up, take the car, or worse.
If you’re driving on an empty road and you witness a scenario like this, stay away, don’t stop by yourself, phone the police or roadside assistance, and report what you saw. I don’t want to terrify anyone needlessly. In this manner, you can assist without endangering your own life.
