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Veteran with broken down car gets new wheels courtesy of Longmont car dealership

Posted at 9:43 PM, Sep 28, 2018
and last updated 2018-09-29 01:09:05-04

Editor's note: Contact7 seeks out audience tips and feedback to help people in need, resolve problems and hold the powerful accountable. If you know of a community need our call center could address, or have a story idea for our investigative team to pursue, please email us at contact7@thedenverchannel.com or call (720) 462-7777. Find more Contact7 stories here.

LONGMONT, Colo. — All Brandon Horning was asking for was a little help. The used car he bought broke down within a month of him buying it, forcing him and his son to walk everywhere.

Contact7 told his story and a local dealership stepped up in a huge way to help.

“Unfortunately, this vehicle has left me in a hard predicament,” Horning told Denver7 on Thursday, describing his 2008 Dodge Charger that has internal engine damage just weeks after he took it off the lot.

Horning is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He was injured while serving. The car was his only mode of transportation for him and his 8-year-old son.

Contact7 is still working with the original dealer on what happened and what should be done next.

Less than 12 hours afterthe original story aired, a different used car dealer in Longmont reached out with an offer.

“Our sales team got together,” Brian Melton of Victory Motors in Longmont said. “And they’re going to contribute their own money to get him in a vehicle today.”

Horning arrived at the dealership not knowing what was about to happen. He was shown two used vehicles, a Honda Civic and Chevy Aveo. He was then informed of the price tag.

“It’s on us,” Melton told him.

“What ? Are you.. what?” Horning replied, almost speechless.

The Air Force vet immediately gravitated towards the Civic. He repeated, “this is incredible!” nearly a dozen times.

“He put his life on the line for us, the least we can do is help him out and get him into a nice car,” Melton said.

“This is absolutely going to change my life. This is going to put it in a direction forward, and I’m excited to see what steps are gonna lie next,” Horning added.

He signed the paperwork and was given the keys to his new (albeit used) car, with the thought of his son front of mind.

“He is going to be so ecstatic,” Horning said with a huge smile. “I can’t wait to see my son smile.”

More information on Victory Motors can be found at https://www.victorymotorsofcolorado.com.