A Warren County man is calling three strangers “angels” after he says they recently saved his life.

Richard Kirkland, 85, lives on U.S. 55 about three miles east of Strasburg and said he was picking up trash off the road when he fell and couldn’t get up.

Kirkland has spinal stenosis and often has trouble straightening up after he bends over. But on Oct. 11, he lost his balance and fell onto the white line across the street from his house.

“Traffic is horrible out here,” he said. “I’m lucky that nobody ran over me.”

A well-traveled thoroughfare between Strasburg and Front Royal, U.S. 55 (Strasburg Road) often sees tractor-trailers, RVs, trucks, motorcycles, regular commuters and tourists, he said.

Thankfully, though, Kirkland didn’t see any cars during his emergency, except for the two that stopped to help.

One vehicle contained a driver and passenger, who stopped when they saw him. Then a second vehicle stopped, and the driver got out to help too.

“I didn’t know ’em at all,” he said. “I call them my three angels.”

The women and two men walked him back to his property, where he thanked them again and indicated that he still wanted to pick up the trash in the road. Kirkland has often picked up trash on the road and assumed that the latest items must have fallen off of a truck.

The three travelers volunteered to take care of it, not only picking up the trash but also driving it away with them.

When Kirkland left his house again the next morning, he said all the trash was gone.

“Such a good deed that they did, and I couldn’t thank them enough for saving my life,” he said.

Kirkland, who lost his wife about four years ago, said he has a tenant who cares for the house and property.

“I love where I’m at and I love my home,” he said. “It’s perfect for me.”

A native of Front Royal, he’s lived in his house for 36 years.

Though Kirkland still regularly runs errands around the area, he said he won’t be picking up any more trash from the road.

“I’ll never go over there again,” he said.

Mostly he’s grateful for the people who stopped to help him and the lull in traffic that allowed them all safe passage across the road.

“I thank you so much,” Kirkland said, expressing hope that his three angels will read these words.

“I wouldn’t be alive today if they hadn’t stopped."