COBB COUNTY, Ga. — Three years after a hit-and-run driver nearly killed him while he was helping a stranded motorist, a Cobb County grandfather says one of the worst nights of his life turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
Keith Paine, 56, suffered life-threatening injuries in the 2023 crash on Cardell Road.
But in an exclusive interview with Channel 2 Action News, Paine revealed that his hospitalization led doctors to discover a potentially life-threatening medical condition he didn’t know he had.
“By helping her, I was able to be helped,” Paine told Channel 2’s Michael Seiden.
It was around 11:30 p.m. when Paine went outside to help a neighbor with a flat tire.
He was helping her get back into her vehicle when another driver slammed into them.
The impact sent Paine flying through the air before he landed in a ditch.
“I was so far away from the car, I didn’t know what had happened to me,” Paine said.
TRENDING STORIES:
- Entire police force, city administrator resigns in Georgia city
- $1 million lottery ticket sold at metro Atlanta Kroger
- Clayton County police officer dragged by vehicle
Despite his injuries, Paine managed to shout out the fleeing driver’s license plate number until Cobb County police arrived.
When Seiden first interviewed Paine in the hospital in 2023, he had more than a dozen staples in his head, a collapsed lung and bruises across his body.
The other victim, Deborah Wright, also suffered life-threatening injuries, according to police.
Channel 2 Action News and Paine have attempted to contact Wright but have been unable to speak with her about her recovery.
Investigators identified the driver as Anthony Sarfo.
According to Cobb County court records, Sarfo pleaded guilty in 2025 to two counts of hit-and-run resulting in serious injury and tampering with evidence.
A judge sentenced him to 10 years, with four years to be served in prison and the remaining six years on probation.
While recovering from the crash, Paine says doctors discovered three severely blocked arteries.
One artery was nearly 90% blocked, while the other two had blockages of approximately 80% and 70%, according to Paine.
Doctors inserted three stents to improve blood flow.
“You don’t know how close you were to having a heart attack or a stroke,” Paine recalled doctors telling him.
“By getting hurt, going to the hospital, and helping her, it helped me in the long run because the doctors were able to find a blockage in my heart and put three stents in,” he said.
Today, Paine says he’s healthy and grateful for the second chance.
But the memories of that night have stayed with him.
“I think about it every time I drive down that road. I try to go out the other way,” he said.
Despite the traumatic experience, Paine says he would not hesitate to help another stranded motorist.
“If I’m able to stop and somebody breaks down, then I’ll stop,” he said.
He credits his family, especially his wife, for helping him through his recovery.
And while the crash nearly cost him his life, Paine says it hasn’t changed his belief in helping others.
“I believe that we’re supposed to help our neighbors and we’re supposed to help people in trouble,” he said. “And if we can’t, then what kind of person are we?”