Wichita ? The red sports car that Oprah Winfrey drove during a cross-country trip this summer was given to a Wichita woman at the end of a television show documenting the trek.

Reola Collier was joined by co-workers at Via Christi Regional Medical Center’s Good Shepherd Campus for a viewing party of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” that aired Tuesday. The program, taped last week, had Collier as its surprise guest of honor.

On the show, Winfrey told Collier that her friend and co-worker, Becky Walker, had nominated her to win the 2006 Chevy Impala Super Sport.

“I started crying,” Collier said. “I couldn’t even believe it. I couldn’t speak. … It was like the ‘Twilight Zone’ from that point on.”

Walker read from her nominating letter: “She is the most generous, caring woman I’ve ever met. She lives her life every day for the sake of others.”

Collier, 53, is a licensed mental health technician and mother of four grown children. She has a son with cerebral palsy who lives in an independent facility for disabled people. Because Collier doesn’t have a car, Walker said, she has had to rely on friends and family to take her to visit her son and to her job, where she often works double shifts.

“Not having a car has made Reola’s life extremely difficult,” Walker wrote. “Everyone here considers Reola a real-life angel. We would like nothing more than to make her life a little easier.”

Winfrey then told Collier: “You are what makes America great. … So I wanted you to have the keys to our Chevy!”

On the show, Winfrey and her friend, Gayle King, concluded a series documenting their cross-country driving trip this summer. Among the places they stopped were Wichita and Dodge City.

Walker received word on Oct. 6 that Collier had been chosen to win the car. Her job was to get Collier to Chicago for the taping of the show without telling her she would be featured.

The segment ended with Collier driving off in her new car.

“It’s the best car I’ve ever owned, ever,” Collier said. “By far. Only new one I’ve ever owned.”