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A Chantilly High School senior used skills learned in the classroom to diagnose and repair a stranger’s car after it broke down, saving the driver from a long wait for a tow.

Om Desai was driving to Point Pleasant to meet family on Sunday, April 13, when he saw a woman ahead of him slow down, activate her hazard lights and pull over. After initially passing, he turned around to check on her.

The driver, Elizabeth Mulenga, told Om that her car had begun jerking and she was afraid to continue driving. Om opened the hood and began troubleshooting the problem.

Om takes Auto Collision and Auto Technology classes at Chantilly Academy, where students receive hands-on instruction in a working garage. Drawing on techniques taught by Auto Technology teacher Samuel Little, he suspected an ignition misfire and narrowed the problem to the fourth cylinder.

Om then drove to his uncle’s nearby home to borrow a diagnostic tool, which confirmed his assessment. Mulenga later wrote to Chantilly High School leaders that she was amazed the equipment reached the same conclusion Om had already made using his classroom training.

Because Mulenga was uncomfortable driving the damaged car, she asked whether Om could repair it. He identified the parts needed, drove to a nearby store to purchase them and returned to complete the repair. He declined payment for his labor.

After installing the replacement part, Om asked Mulenga to press the accelerator. She immediately noticed that the problem had been resolved.

Mulenga said Om spent about three hours helping her, cutting into time he had planned to spend with his family. Without him, she said, she likely would have waited for roadside assistance and then had the car towed because mechanical repairs generally could not be completed at the scene.

Little said he was pleased that Om had used his abilities to help someone in need. He teaches students not only to understand vehicle systems, but also to share that knowledge with others.

Chantilly Academy’s automotive courses cover areas including electrical systems, steering and drivetrains. Om said students also practice customer service skills, such as explaining repairs, describing how the work was performed and discussing ways to prevent future problems.

For Om, the roadside repair brought both sides of that training together: diagnosing a mechanical failure and calmly helping a frightened driver understand what had gone wrong.