Every time Travis County area resident Jonathan McCabe passes by a fellow motorist in distress, habit guides him to pull over and help out in any way he can.

That was the action McCabe took when he saw a vehicle that had rolled over in a ditch along Hamilton Pool Road near the Bee Cave area Feb. 6.

What began as a check on an accident victim, however, rapidly turned into a life-or-death situation.

Through the quick wits of McCabe and fellow motorist Tyler Lawing, a Dripping Springs area man was ...