A good Samaritan hit the brakes when he saw a turtle ambulating on Whalley Avenue — and then braved traffic, as well as some head snaps, to coax it to safety.
The rescue took place around 7:30 p.m. Monday evening near the West River and the Edgewood Park basketball courts on Whalley Avenue, a block from Westville Village.
Snappy.
Rob Smith, a 20-year-old certified nurse’s assistant from New Haven, was driving eastbound on Whalley with his girlfriend Destiny Nelson when he spotted the turtle in the road. He hopped out of the car and grabbed a stick. (Click on the play arrow to watch what happened next.)
Smith has always liked turtles. He remembered learning about them as a student at Hamden High School. He watches YouTube videos to learn more about them.
Paul Bass Photo
As Nelson (pictured) captured the action on a cell-phone camera, Smith spent ten minutes poking at the turtle to steer it out of the road. The turtle kept snapping at him, so Smith kept his distance. He finally got the turtle on the grass, then the sidewalk, then headed down the hill toward the river.
Where, he hopes, the turtle will stay.