So I’m riding around with “Master P” Thursday — not the real one; that is his self-appointed nickname from 20 years ago — in his Mom’s mini-van (concrete proof right there that it isn’t the real Master P) as we were running errands to get ready to put on a golf tournament. Moments after picking up large beer donation, Master P failed to see a large object in the middle of the road.

A few seconds later, the front right tire began to make a noise, but that was it. No pulling to the right; no tell-tale sign of a flat. When he got to a light, I did a quick check and saw the tire was still inflated, so we made the choice to hop on I-49 to continue to our next stop. Best decision we made all day.

As soon as he sped up the on-ramp, all hell broke loose. Actually, what broke loose was whatever had attached itself to the tire. As soon as it did, I told Master P to go ahead and pull over because the deal was done. We were barely clear of the on-ramp, still kinda in the merging portion of the road.

You know the feeling; you curse your luck and then realize “well, what do we do now?”

Not 30 seconds — 30 seconds — after the mini-van (I know, I have a hard time even writing those words, much less riding in one) came to a stop, a DOTD Roadside Emergency vehicle pulled up behind us.

You have got to be kidding me. There was our guardian angel, dressed in a fluorescent yellow jumpsuit. I’ve always seen these guys on the road helping people and thought how great that is. Are people really this nice? They go around just helping stranded and/or stupid people?

(As an aside, I always thought DOTD stood for Department of Transportation Department, but actually there is a “Development” in there somewhere.)

Anyway, the guy couldn’t have been nicer. He resisted the temptation to drive off when he had a hard time locating all of the parts need to get the spare. Oh, and the spare wasn’t where it was supposed to be either.

He did ask “so, I stopped to help a couple of bootleggers, huh?” when he saw all the beer in the back.

Master P, perhaps out of embarrassment or concern that his Mommy might be mad when he got home, stayed in the vehicle the entire time. A dangerous move, but he was terrified that a passing motorist might take out him or the door if he opened it.

Being the natural interviewer that I am, I did ask a few probing questions:

** Changing tires is by far the No. 1 issue he drives up on. Overheated vehicles and dead batteries are also in there.

** His real job is as a firefighter. He’s also in a band with his sons. He does the DOTD gig about two times a week.

** We were not the stupidest people he’s helped.

I offered to look the other way if he wanted to take any of the “items” in the back of the mini-van as a thank you gesture, but he declined. “Might not be a good idea,” he said.

Naturally, the spare was also low, but our guy had an air compressor to get us up to reasonable PSI.

Had we not elected to get on the interstate, DOTD Guy would have never driven up on us. We might still be there, trying to figure out where that semi-inflated spare tire was.

A heartfelt thanks to DOTD Guy and the people who employ him.