GREENSBORO, N.C. — On Valentine's Day, 911 calls poured in from folks driving along I-73.
One caller said, "There's been a car accident. A guy was just hit on the highway."
Another caller said, "There's been a bad accident and I think someone's been killed."
Marcus Nivens, 62, of Winston-Salem, died after pulling off on I-73 to refill his car with gas. Police said a driver rammed into a car behind him, before hitting Nivens.
Nivens' son, Javon Springs, said his dad was the definition of tough love with pure intentions. He and his family are now left figuring out how to move forward.
"Emotionally, I feel lost because he was, in a sense, my compass," Springs said.
Springs also described his father as straightforward, ambitious, and quite the go-getter.
"What he instilled in me was - do whatever it takes to make it happen - and so, no matter what situation I'm faced with, good, bad or indifferent, that's what I do, and it's because of him," Springs said.
According to Greensboro Police, Destiny Hankins, 24, of Greensboro, was driving a Toyota Corolla on the I-73 South ramp to I-40 West.
Nivens was stopped on the right shoulder putting gas into his SUV. Police said he was wearing a yellow reflective vest.
Nivens' girlfriend Cora Sloan and her brother Albert Davis brought him the gas and were parked behind him on the shoulder.
Springs said his father told them to stay in their car, keeping them out of harm's way. Police said Hankins hit both cars and Nivens.
"So, in a sense, he saved her and possibly me, because I was on the phone with him and I was getting ready to come out there," Springs said.
Springs said if he could speak with his father one last time, he would simply tell him thank you.
"Thank you for everything. Even the hard stuff. I think I learned the most from those lessons. So, all I want to say is thank you, 'cause it's what I need to teach mine [his children] and move forward," Springs said.
Hankins was charged with misdemeanor death by vehicle, failure to maintain lane control, no seat belt, and no operator's license. GPD's Crash Reconstruction Unit is still investigating.
