Marcellus “Mo” Riles, who had endured years of mockery and pity due to the shocking state of his old pickup truck, was recently surprised with a new one.
Riles’ truck was a familiar sight in South Bend, Indiana. Its poor condition was noticeable across town, causing people to look twice and becoming a frequent topic of discussion online.
“I thought it was AI. I didn’t know if it was real,” one resident told CBS News. “I did a double take because I couldn’t believe the sight of it,” another stated.
While the front of his green 1999 Chevy Silverado looked relatively undamaged, a view from almost any other angle revealed why it drew so many eyes.
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The truck’s bed was severely crushed and buckled, with damage so extensive it was astonishing that the vehicle remained operational. Beyond the major structural damage, the truck was covered in various scrapes and dents, and several components appeared barely attached.
Riles explained that the truck’s wrecked state was the result of countless situations over the years, too many for him to list.
“Let’s go with what didn’t happen to it,” he said.
“I’ve met a lot of good people driving that truck. I’ve taken pictures with people, people taking pictures with me and the truck and vice versa. And, we’ve laughed, you know people laugh, and I laugh with them,” Riles told WSBT.
Because Indiana does not require routine vehicle inspections, the truck remained street legal. As a result, the vehicle has been a source of public amusement for months, with thousands of people sharing photos and mocking its appearance online.
Instead of joining in the spectacle and mocking the situation, one resident, Colin Crowel, chose to look beyond the scene a few weeks ago and build a friendship.
Crowel, owner of a local detailing shop, said, “I just thought, there’s got to be something more to why this truck looks like this. I just put two and two together that this is the person’s only means of transition.”
Crowel initiated a crowdfunding campaign for Riles to purchase a safer, more dependable vehicle. The campaign garnered an overwhelming response, collecting roughly $22,000 from approximately 500 individual contributors, surpassing its goal.
The extent of the generosity moved Riles. “That’s the part that knocked me over, man,” Riles said. “Here’s a human being seeing another human being struggle. And I’m like, wow, what did I do to deserve this?”
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Having worked for most of his life, including a recent job at Dollar Tree, Riles relies heavily on reliable transportation for his doctor’s appointments due to ongoing health issues.
He drove the Silverado for the last time last week, taking it to a local Chevy dealership. There, he was unexpectedly presented with a brand new, shiny 2019 Silverado.
Riles insists that despite owning a new vehicle, he will always remember the value and performance of his former truck.
“And My grandfather saw say you got to use what you got to get what you need. So, I didn’t have to walk and I use this to get here, so, I have no regrets I just can’t say nothing bad about,” Riles remarked.
Yet, the true gift, he pointed out, was much less visible. “This whole thing is not about me. It’s about this community bonding together. God is good,” Riles expressed.
