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October 27, 2007 - 7:55AM
Motorist loses leg helping off-duty officer
Annie Woods, Tribune
Gabriel Botiller could have kept driving. It was rush hour on a busy Valley freeway, and the 22-year-old Apache Junction resident had places to go when he saw a motorist stranded Sept. 18 on the side of the road with a flat tire.
Other motorists kept driving along U.S. 60 that afternoon, but Botiller stopped.
With his experience from working at a Discount Tire in Mesa, he thought he could help the man — who turned out to be an off-duty Mesa police officer.
As Botiller was changing the tire, a vehicle lost control and hit his truck, pushing it toward Botiller and the officer.
The collision left the vehicle’s driver dead and both Botiller and the officer in critical condition.
Botiller fought for his life during the next four weeks at the hospital. He said he was determined to live for his wife, Keli, and their 15-month-old son, Noah.
Botiller ended up losing his left leg and sustained other serious injuries. But he lived.
“He’s so gracious, and he’s more concerned about the police officer than himself,” Mesa police spokesman Chris Arvayo said.
Mesa police spokeswoman Diana Tapia declined to identify the injured officer. She said the 29-year-old officer remains hospitalized and is recovering from surgery.
Botiller said that without the help of Discount Tire, which provides him with rental cars, he would not have transportation to and from his medical appointments.
Keli Botiller said her husband and his co-workers call it a “Discount Tire Brotherhood,” and they are there for each other.
“They have been amazing through this entire thing,” she said.
The company is holding a carwash to raise money for Botiller and his family at 10 a.m. Sunday at Discount Tire at Recker Road and Main Street in Mesa. Mesa police will attend the event as well.
“He has a long, long, long journey of recovery ahead of him,” Arvayo said. “And we just want to do whatever we can to help.”
People also can make donations to the Gabriel Botiller Medical Fund at any Bank of America branch in the Valley.
Keli Botiller said her husband is having a tough time but stays positive. She said stopping to help people is a normal thing for her husband, despite what people say about the dangers of stopping to help strangers.
“He is a very energetic, kind and helpful person,” she said.
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