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ForgivenOne

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Everything posted by ForgivenOne

  1. The Pete was theirs too so it was all good. They were happy.
  2. It was a Motorhome at the Port of Oakland going from one yard to another. It was used as a sleeping quarters for truckers of a company. They were trying to get it to the other yard on its own power when it just stopped and died. It would not turn on anymore. Bob told me to take #130 and head to an address. Once I got there I saw the vehicle and got into position to hook it up. Once I got it hooked up I tried to move it forward and backward to see if the brakes were the problem. The owners released some brake fluid from the lines. That didn't solve the problem though, so I took a quick look at the back and saw it was a pusher motor. I was not going to hook this thing from the back and tow it that way, that is not going to happen. Thank goodness I have the experience to know what to look for. I saw that the driveshaft lead to an emergency brake drum before the transmission. I pulled on the cable and it was tight, so I was hoping that when I removed the pin the brake would release and the vehicle would roll. Of course it rolled freely when I did that and I was able to take it to their new yard at the Port. They were so happy I was able to put it where they wanted it and told me I did perfectly. Sadly, I was reminded of the times we are in now looking at the ships in the background. There are still people dressed in all white walking around adorned with masks on those ships.
  3. Just the usual daily mask to get through the day.
  4. love my job as you guys know. Last night I got a call of a 40' container trailer on its side with 20 tons of paper waste inside at the Port. I was by myself so I called David Solis to see if he was still in Oakland. I asked him if I could do this call by myself and he said no that he was not in the city. He recommended I call Scorni or Bob. I ended up calling Bob and he decided to come out and help me with this one. It's always a treat to learn from Bob and watch his thought process on calls. I don't know what happened but the trailer legs lost one of its rollers and over the trailer went onto its side. Bob and I made it right. Trailer on its side at the Port of Oakland. Nothing unusual here, move along people,.... So this is a trailer foot and it came off the leg which is why the trailer rolled onto its side. This is the trailer leg the wheel broke off of. So Bob had this thick cable with two eyelets at the end and it was just the right length to go around the diameter in between the trailer wheels. He then hooked his cable to it and pulled the trailer chassis away from the container and it landed right where it did. Bob showed me he has no fear or he's done this plenty of times before. This is the cool part of his truck, #140, his boom rotates like a clock dial. Bob swings the boom over so he can lift the trailer in the air and the truck driver can back up underneath it and reconnect it to his tractor. We are both trying to manipulate roughly 40,000 lbs of weight and that's heavy. You gotta know what you're doing and not get anybody killed or damage property in the process. I was an extension of Bob's thought process. When we righted this container, I let out a man cry. I love big trucks and I cannot lie,... We lifted the container in the air high enough for the truck driver to be able to back the container chassis underneath it. That's what I'm talking about, we made it right again. The tractor driver was happy to be back in one piece again.
  5. Glen Murray, passed away December 29, 2008, after a several month illness. The Company remembered Glen as a very dedicated and loyal friend and employee. He was one of the kindest, generous people you could ever hope to meet. He was the recipient of numerous towing awards and recognition's during his 20 years of towing, including AAA Merits of Service, AAA Member Satisfaction, AAA Totally Satisfied, and was instrumental throughout all the years helping their company, Ellison's Towing, to achieve numerous awards, including the AAA Gold, Silver, and Bronze Service Providers of Excellence awards, the AAA Pioneer award, and numerous others. He was known for his willingness to always go out of his way to provide the best possible service that was possible. To him, the customer, no matter who they were, always came first above all else. He was always there to help in any manner possible any of his teammate-drivers. He was warmly known at the Company as the "MacGyver of Towing" for his uncanny ability to improvise whatever was needed at the spur of the moment for the oddball recovery or tow. He was truly one of kind, and dearly loved and respected by his fellow teammates. He will always be deeply missed and will always remain in the thoughts, memories and prayers forever. Glen Murray, we at Ellison's Towing now sign you off 10-98, and forever 10-7. http://towersmemorial.info/memorial.htm
  6. Marvin Erickson, 67, Chemult, OR, 12.26.04 Erickson, who owned a gas station and towing service on Highway 97, was shot the day after Christmas while answering a late-night call to pull a stranded motorist out of the snow. The shooter, who later killed himself, was wanted in the deaths of two Washington men. Owner of the Erickson Shell station in Chemult Marvin Erickson, 67, of Chemult, Ore., died Dec. 26, 2004. A memorial service and tow truck procession was held in early January 2005. Mr. Erickson, who owned Erickson Shell station and a towing service on Highway 97 in Chemult, was shot and killed by a motorist stranded in the snow. The motorist, who later shot and killed himself, is also suspected in two other murders. Marvin Erickson's wife, Marilyn Erickson, ran the mom-and-pop business with her husband and one employee. The service station is still open, and her son has been helping her with the business end of it. Marilyn Erickson said she was overwhelmed by the support of both the towing community and people in Chemult. He is survived by his wife Marilyn; children Kay Sherman and Tim Erickson; and grandchildren. A memorial fund has been set up to help the family with funeral costs. http://towersmemorial.info/memorial.htm
  7. James N Hall, 54, IN, 12.17.03 Hall was loading a disabled pickup truck onto a flatbed wrecker on the northbound emergency lane of I-69, while the pickup truck's owner sat in a C-35 Chevrolet Dually behind it. A GMC van pulling a U-Haul trailer, was reported to be moving at 70 mph, left the roadway and drove into the back of the C-35 and forced the vehicles into one another killing Hall instantly. He worked for Gold Star Wrecker. http://towersmemorial.info/memorial.htm
  8. STARCEVICH Michael J. Born : July 5, 1974 Entered into rest : December 20, 2005 31 years old Starcevich was killed when a westbound semi truck ran off the road about a quarter mile east of Cherry Hill on Interstate 80 and slammed into his tow truck and a van he had on his hook. Starcevich had pulled his vehicle off the highway to adjust a white conversion van he was towing. The semi truck, which was hauling rolls of paper, caught fire. Starcevich was found lying in the snow about 100 feet from his tow truck and was non-responsive. He died in the emergency room soon after arriving at Silver Cross Hospital. The wreck remains under investigation, and no criminal charges have been filed. Michael J STARCEVICH was added to the Wall of the Fallen in 2007 http://towersmemorial.info/memorial.htm
  9. TATKENHORST Joe C. Born : December 10, 1946 Entered into rest : December 28, 2006 60 years old Tatkenhorst was preparing to pull a vehicle out of a ditch in the snow when he was struck by an out of control car. The conditions of the road were icy at the time. He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced deceased. Joe C. TATKENHORST was added to the Wall of the Fallen in 2007 http://towersmemorial.info/memorial.htm
  10. KAMMERER Edward Allen Born : February 5, 1955 Entered into rest : December 26, 2015 60 years old Mr. Kammerer owned and operated A-1 Towing in Strafford. He responded to an accident where someone hit a power pole at the intersection of Farm Roads 112 and 125, north of Springfield. The driver of that car left the scene. Another vehicle drove up on the downed pole and it went into the ditch trying to avoid the electrical wires on the ground. When Mr. Kammerer pulled up, the lives wires came into contact with his truck and he died of an electrical shock at the scene. He leaves behind his wife Betty, four children, and many other family members. He is remembered as a hard worker, a good guy and someone with a smile always on their face. http://towersmemorial.info/memorial.htm
  11. BRESCIA "Sal" Salvatore R. Born : December 15, 1984. Entered into rest : December 29, 2016 32 years old: Sal was out of his flatbed truck on I-95, tending to a disabled minivan, when he was hit by another car at 6:53 a.m. The driver who struck him left the scene. The owner of the minivan stated he was attempting to get into the passenger side door of the tow truck, which was locked, at the time of the impact. He heard the collision, went around the truck and saw Sal lying in the road. A passer-by also stopped immediately to try to assist. Trooper John Finaro said Sal was alive but had sustained "very serious injuries" when he was transported to the hospital. He was pronounced dead about 8:15 a.m. He was set to be married to Kristin Neshewat on July 4 of the same year. "He was a selfless person, always willing to help or put someone before him," Neshewat said. Three pieces of plastic, none bigger than the size of an iPhone, from the right side-view mirror of the box truck was all evidence police had, but it was enough to develop a suspect and make an arrest. EZ-Pass and cellphone records were also instrumental in this investigation. Anthony Mangano, of Ozone Park, pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of a personal injury incident resulting in death, a felony. Mangano faces two and one third to seven years in state prison when he is sentenced on March 8, 2018. BRESCIA "Sal" Salvatore R. was added to the Wall of the Fallen in 2018 http://towersmemorial.info/memorial.htm
  12. Worker crushed on the job By Nelson Bennett The Worker's Compensation Board is investigating the death of a 46-year-old employee at City Wide Auto Towing in Richmond Monday. Dwayne Dale was killed at the towing company's compound at 9500 River Drive sometime between 10:15 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., said provincial coroner Stephen Fonseca. According to police and the WCB, Dale was apparently working beneath a vehicle, which was up on a flatbed truck, when the accident occurred. "The vehicle ended up falling on top of him and crushing him, and, unfortunately, killing him almost instantly," said Cpl. Peter Thiessen of the Richmond RCMP. Police received the call at about 10:30 a.m. Ambulances also arrived on the scene, but paramedics were unable to revive Dale, Fonseca said. Fonseca has ordered an autopsy to verify the exact cause of death. Police are considering the accident work-related. "Certainly there's nothing suspicious about it - no foul play," Thiessen said. It's not clear how the vehicle managed to roll off the flatbed. That is something WCB will be investigating, said spokeswoman Donna Freeman. Dale's fellow employees at the towing company's compound Monday morning were visibly distraught. One employee, who earlier expressed frustration with the abundance of press at the scene, later told reporters, "We've had a lot of things happen around here." Monday's accident was not the first for the towing company. In March, 2003, company owner Paul Sihata was run over by a semitrailer truck just outside his business office on River Drive. He recovered, but it was never made clear how Sihata ended up under the tires of the vehicle. In March 1994, Paul's Towing (which has the same street address as City Wide towing) received five workplace safety citations from the WCB. All were minor infractions. Sihata was unavailable for comment Tuesday. posted on 03/09/2005 Tony893
  13. TOW TRUCK OPERATOR KILLED IN ONE VEHICLE ACCIDENT A Williamston man was killed after driving a wrecker into several trees on NC Highway 99 near Plymouth monday morning. Stanley Smallwood Jr., 22, was operating a wrecker belonging to Roy's Service Center in Windsor where he worked part-time while attending college at night. Smallwood died at the scene. He leaves behind a wife and small child. The accident occurred approximately 10:15 a.m. According the the NC State Highway Patrol, it looked like he ran off the right side of the road and then came back on and ran off of the left side into several trees. There were no witnesses to the accident. After a humbling recovery, the wrecker was moved to our impound yard where it could be secured out of the public's view. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. We are located in a small community and there are no news links available, however this is from the local newpaper. JandJ Wrecker Service
  14. July, 20, 2005: TOW TRUCK OPERATOR KILLED IN ONE VEHICLE ACCIDENT A Williamston man was killed after driving a wrecker into several trees on NC Highway 99 near Plymouth monday morning. Stanley Smallwood Jr., 22, was operating a wrecker belonging to Roy's Service Center in Windsor where he worked part-time while attending college at night. Smallwood died at the scene. He leaves behind a wife and small child. The accident occurred approximately 10:15 a.m. According the the NC State Highway Patrol, it looked like he ran off the right side of the road and then came back on and ran off of the left side into several trees. There were no witnesses to the accident. After a humbling recovery, the wrecker was moved to our impound yard where it could be secured out of the public's view. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. We are located in a small community and there are no news links available, however this is from the local newpaper. JandJ Wrecker Service
  15. February 19, 2004 It is with regrets that we inform the members of the Towing & Recovery Assn. of KY of the passing of Ronald Reed; Mr. Reed, 52, died after a brief illness yesterday, 02/18/2004 at the VA Hospital in Lexington, KY. Reed was earlier employed at Winchester's Towing for many years. He left Lexington to open and operate Ron's Lakeland Wrecker Service in Florida. He recently returned to Lexington, where he was currently employed at CTS by Johnny Winchester. Mr. Reed was an accomplished tower, who (according to his previous employers) was a diligent and faithful employee, as well as a dedicated family man. Born June 5, 1951, he leaves behind a wife and children. While in Florida he was a member of the Professional Wrecker Operators of Florida. He returned to Lexington in October of 2003, and his current employers (CTS & Winchester's) are past and present members of TRAK. The visitation will be held at Best & West Funeral Home, Nicholasville, KY from 5PM-9PM on Saturday, February 21st, and Sunday February 22nd from 1PM-3PM and from 5PM-9PM. The funeral will be Monday, February 22 at 11:30 AM with burial to follow at Camp Nelson. A tow truck processional is being planned; for information, please contact: Mike Winchester, (859) 983-8928 (cell) or 278-0355 (work) Johnny Winchester, (859) 278-9999 (work) Scott Burrows
  16. Mr. Kirk A. Cameron, of Lake City, Fl. Died as a result of injuries sustained in a Motorcycle Accident. Kirk and His wife Own and Operate All 4 One Towing and Recovery. Kirk is survived by his Wife (Terri) 3 sons, Justin,Jeremy,and James. and his 2 grand children. Mr. Kirk Alan Cameron 43, of Fort White, Florida died Monday February 23, 2004 in Lake City as a result of injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident.
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