A man in Longview is accused of keeping his girlfriend against her will for several hours, beating and choking her, but she eventually escaped.  And she had probably never been so glad to see that Whataburger sign.

Leonard Smith is in the Gregg County Jail after police say he beat and choked his girlfriend for several hours before she got away.  It happened Sunday night in Longview, and she was able to get out of the place where she was being held captive and run to the Whataburger on South Eastman Road for help.

Whataburger employees deserve a big high five on this one, because they called 911 while the woman hid in the restaurant, because they said she was scared that her boyfriend would come and find her and start beating her again.

Of course, these are accusations at this point and Smith hasn't been proven guilty or convicted of a crime.  The investigation continues.

Meanwhile, it appears to be another reason to be happy that Whataburger exists in Texas.  The burgers are a Texas tradition, and if you find yourself in need of a well-lit place with at least a few people around, it can be a good thing there's one on nearly every corner.

More From Classic Rock Q107