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Good Samaritans help man in wheelchair trying to travel in O'Neil tunnel

BOSTON — A MassDOT camera showed the heartbreaking view of a 56-year-old Boston man struggling to get across the right side of the Tip O'Neil Tunnel in his wheelchair. Eventually the man goes out of frame, blocked by road signs.

But a Good Samaritan drove up right next to him, blocking traffic. About 10 seconds and about 10 feet later, the man emerged from under the road sign, but this time another Good Samaritan was pushing him along while the driver of the car rolled right by his side until they got to a safe location and called for help.

If the video was not caught on camera, it would be hard to believe. What makes this story even more shocking: it’s the second time this has happened in the last six months.

When police showed up, the man told them he was just trying to get to Mass General Hospital, about a mile away from the tunnel.

Right now, it's unclear if this is the same 56-year-old Boston man rescued a few miles away on the westbound side of the Mass Pike back in March.

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That time it was a AAA driver that stopped to block traffic just inside the Prudential tunnel past Arlington Street. In both incidents, the men were checked out and released from the hospital.

Massachusetts State Police told Boston 25 News that their overriding concern, in this case, was for the man's safety and wellness.

"Needless to say, he put himself in a dangerous position, and we are grateful we could reach him before he got hurt," they said.