SURREY - Read a story of epic heroism and callous disregard.
The scene opens at Sue's Bookshelf, in Newton, mid-morning Tuesday.
Storeowner Sue Fawcett is chatting with a long-time customer when the 90-year-old woman, who has a taste for romance novels, quits breathing and keels over.
"We were talking about yarns, knitting," Fawcett recalls.
Fawcett phones 911 and an ambulance is on its way.
Meantime, the elderly woman is passed out and Fawcett has no first aid training. Nevertheless, with the dispatcher's coaching, she performs CPR and saves her customer's life. Surrey firefighters soon arrive, and paramedics park their ambulance outside the bookstore, at Newton Village.
Enter the alleged villain. The ambulance is blocking the path of a young man who's driving a green van. As the story goes, he starts honking at the ambulance. He wants it to get out of his way.
Apparently, he needs a sandwich.
He drives around the ambulance, knocking over some emergency scene cones.
A firefighter motions for the driver to stop, and the van's passenger side window clips the firefighter's hand. Surrey Mounties detain the driver - a 25-year-old Surrey man, who is known to police - after finding him nearby and ticket him for failing to yield for an emergency vehicle and failing to remain at the scene of an accident.
"I think it's close to $400," Cpl. Bert Paquet says of his fines. "That is an expensive sandwich."
As for the elderly woman, on Tuesday night things weren't looking so good for her.
But by Wednesday morning, Fawcett hears from the woman's son, who indicates his mom is on the road to recovery.
"The hospital said that was their miracle patient," Fawcett chimes.
Saving a life, Fawcett says, is a "very good feeling."
As for the incident with the young driver, she adds, "Oh my god, that was insane."
Who says bookstores are boring? tzytaruk@thenownewspaper.com