Community Comes Together To Give Beloved 'Beat-Up Truck' Driver A Brand-New Ride

January 10, 2026

Today's good news story comes from South Bend, Indiana.

A man whose battered pickup truck went viral now has a brand-new set of wheels, thanks to the kindness of strangers.

Colin Crowel and Mo Riles / CBS News

After photos and videos of the beat-up truck began circulating online, local business owner Colin Crowel, of Carguys Auto Detailing, felt compelled to step in. On November 30, he launched a GoFundMe to help the truck’s driver, Marcellus “Mo” Riles, get a safer and more reliable vehicle.

In just one month, more than 500 people donated, raising over $22,000 — enough to cover the cost of Mo’s new truck.

The big reveal took place Tuesday at Gates Chevrolet in South Bend, where Mo finally saw the vehicle his community had helped provide: a 2019 Chevy Silverado, the same model family as his famous old truck.

“God blessed me,” Mo said as he took in his new ride.

For Crowel, watching Mo receive the keys was the moment that made it all worthwhile.

“I’ve got to do a lot of amazing things,” Crowel said. “I think this is the top moment.”

From the very beginning, Crowel’s goal was to help Mo get into a dependable vehicle, especially given Mo’s health challenges and ongoing recovery.

“We wanted to make sure that we take the load off his shoulders so he can heal and be comfortable,” Crowel explained. “Now that we have him in a safe vehicle, he can get to his appointments, get to work, go to the grocery store — and know that when he gets back to his vehicle, it’s going to start.”

Crowel also shared that auto shops have offered to assist with Mo’s future maintenance, making sure his new ride stays on the road for years to come.

More than anything, Mo is grateful for the people who made it all happen.

“I’m so appreciative of this community,” he said. “It’s not about me — it’s about the efforts of a man who saw a stressful situation for another human being.”