From Staff Reports

A woman with disabilities — stranded on the median along Interstate 26 in Asheville after a car accident on May 2 — was refused service by a tow truck driver because her vehicle had Democratric presidential candidate Bernie Sanders’ signs on it.

The story immediately went viral, with reports of the incident picked up by media outlets around the world.

Casandra McWade, 25, summed up her reaction to the news media after she was refused service as follows: 

“I was like, ‘Wait, are you serious? You’re kidding me.’”

In giving his version of the story, tow truck driver Ken Shupe, 51, of Shupee Max Towing of Traveler’s Rest, S.C., told the media:

“Something came over me. I think the Lord came to me, and He just said, ‘Get in the truck and leave.’ And when I got in my truck, you know, I was so proud, because I felt like I finally drew a line in the sand and stood up for what I believed.”

McWade said that after her car accident, her family called its regular mechanic to drive about 45 minutes north (to Asheville) to tow her to her Traveler’s Rest home.

However, the mechanic was not able to make the trip, so McWade said the mechanic called Shupe to handle the towing job instead.

Shupe reportedly arrived after about an hour and began the process of towing the vehicle.

“He goes around back and comes back and says ‘I can’t tow you.’ My first instinct was there must be something wrong with the car,” McWade told Asheville’s WLOS-TV News 13 on May 4. “And he says, ‘No, you’re a Bernie supporter.’ And I was like, ‘Wait, really?’ And he says, ‘Yes ma’am,’ and just walks away.”

McWade has a Sanders bumper sticker on her rear fender and a Sanders yard sign in her rear window.

Shupe, who supports presumptive Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, told the news media that his decision on the side of the interstate was more about business than politics — some liberal clients have not paid him, he said. 

Shupe said he believes Sanders’ supporters are socialists, and has had problems with two customers over the last six months who support Sanders. He added that they caused him problems over paying their bills.

“I’ve had some horrible experiences in the last six months with towing cars for this mindset individuals, in that I don’t get paid,” he told the news media. “They want to argue about a $50 tow bill, and it turns into just a drama and a fuss. And I said, ‘You know, I’m not going to associate with them, and I’m not going to do any business with them,’” Shupe said.

“I’m really not interested in doing business with that clientele,” he said, referring to Sanders’ supporters.

For her part, McWade said, “I personally don’t believe that you don’t have to agree on anything just to be kind to one another. I was like, ‘What did I do to you?’ You know, I do believe I try to do right by people. So I was offended, and I don’t know what exactly he thinks I would have done to him directly by being a believer in Bernie.”

McWade has psoriatic arthritis, fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and early-stage Crohn’s Disease, which she said made sitting on the side of the road without a nearby restroom “terrifying.” She is legally disabled and says the handicapped sign was dangling from her mirror when Shupe arrived.

She also said the family mechanic had told Shupe that she was disabled. After waiting more than an hour and a half, McWade was towed by another company.

Conversely, Shupe said he did not know that McWade was disabled.

“‘Had she been disabled, would I have towed her car?’ No ma’am. I would have pulled forward and sat there with her to make sure she was OK until another wrecker service showed up to get her home safely, but I still would not have towed her car,” Shupe said. “I stand by my decision, and I would do it again today if the opportunity presented itself.”