TowZone

Tow Truck Driver Shot and Killed While Repossessing a Car Zach Johnson, 24, died Monday at Medical City Denton Family and co-workers are mourning the loss of a tow truck driver who was killed on the job early Monday. Zach Johnson, 24, was a tow truck driver at Texas Auto Towing Service in Sanger. Business owner Joe Baker said Johnson was hired about three weeks ago. "This is the very first person I've ever lost," said Baker, who's been in business for 20 years. Johnson loved life, fishing and mudding in his pickup, which was still parked at Texas Auto Towing Service on Tuesday evening. At about 1 a.m. Monday, he was killed repossessing a car at the Best Western Inn & Suites on Swisher Road in Lake Dallas. "A $500 car. It was literally a 2003 Nissan model car," Baker said. Police said Johnson was about to drive off with the car when 37-year-old Barry DeGeorge walked outside, claimed it was his, then went back in. "That's when the gentleman opened up the window of the hotel and proceeded to fire on him," Baker said. DeGeorge fired 12 times, police said. Police performed CPR until paramedics arrived. Johnson was taken to Medical City of Denton, where he died. "He left way too soon," Baker said tearfully. Since the shooting, work at Baker's business has come to a screeching halt. Now, every minute is spent planning for a funeral for an employee who came to work, but never went home. Funeral services for Johnson are Friday at 2 p.m. at Meador Funeral Home in Gainesville. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help cover funeral expenses. Baker said he's considering shutting down his business for good, saying he and his wife couldn't bear to have another tragedy happen on their watch. DeGeorge is in the Denton County Jail charged with murder. Lake Dallas Police said he told them he thought Johnson was stealing his car. RESOURCE LINK UPDATED: Funeral arrangements for Zach Johnson are as follows: Services will be @ Meadow Funeral Home 1204 East California Gainesville, TX 76240 Visitation Thursday Dec 5th from 6-8pm Funeral will be Dec 6th @ 2pm

Our Thoughts and Prayers are with the Family, Friends and Co-workers. Appears as though he just rolled into the small tree. Likely didn't have much warning as to the medical emergency which would take his life. The news story leaves some details out, such as did he radio for help and past before help arrived. Not that it matters at the point. Our industry has grown larger over the years and some in the industry are getting up there in years. A few decades ago we thought 61 was old. Today we think 81 is old, RIP DRIVER

@Kevin Farthing "THE TOWBOSS" Waffco Towing is also a member on TowForce.

ProTower, while this is one of the older topic that are being recreated from Tow411. It is likely we will see either Kim02 or Waffco on this new message board known as TowForce. Several long time members are slowly returning to the only active message board in the industry. You just can't replace to type of topic and dialog in any other format. Hey @Kim02 & @Waffco Joe are you guys out there? or better yet are you in here?

I didn't even recall creating this post, not sure any of our current sponsor have this exact model. The JNC660 is may favorite I didn't find it on a sponsor page, but that isn't to say they do not have it. I got mine from JBTOOLS maybe 20 years ago and it's still going strong. https://www.jbtools.com/portable-boosters/#?Category1=Portable+Boosters&search_return=all And here's a Cyber Monday Code for 10% Off Today. CYBERMONDAY2019

I'm less than half that 4 inches. But, we rarely see more than 6 inches of snow at one time and then everything shuts down. LOL

Brian, I agree these comments in this topic should not be taken as disrespectful to the loss of this tow operators life. I look at it more as we are making these comments as we patiently await the release of the information. Once that Info have been made public another topic will begin for proper condolences to the Family, Friends & Co-workers. We view any loss of a Tow Operators life as tragic regardless of the situation. One year we hope that not one name will be added to the Wall of the Fallen. All the while knowing that will never happen as we gather in Chattanooga, Tn to pay tribute to many of those who do what we do. Knowing that any year our name could be one of those and our family could be one of the grieving. Many of us grieve with them on that day, as we fight back the emotions. For those that have not experienced the ceremony I encourage you to make plans to attend in the future. God Bless!

Randall, more than half the tow operators get little or no information. Even those who are on Facebook which is still less than half the industry and few than 20% on a regular basis. Combine that with half the tow company owners that offer little or no training along with either safety meetings or no regular safety meetings. Then your understanding of why they lack this important knowledge that reinforces good safety habits exist. And Yes what we think of as proper procedures for a safe work zone are habits to the workforce in the towing industry. It should become habit for every driver which is not properly uniformed to put the safety vest on, I encourage the use of a wearable warning devise such as the Guardian Angel. From my experience and I have two of them, they are beneficial and well worth the cost. I wear one on my belt and when a situation deems, I wear the second on my shoulder. I only have two because there was a great deal on the second one at the Vegas Show this Year and I wanted the new belt clip they wear offering. You can buy the junk ones cheap, but you get what you pay for when you buy the Guardian Angel the thing is not Junk. Many of us can relate to the feeling of being a matador staring down a rushing bull. Only the bull is a moving vehicle and there is no cape. You must decide at what point to move or jump out of the way. Disbelief generally shows that judgement, as you stare at the oncoming vehicle passing the police vehicle and headed in your direction. Do you make some type of motion at that motorist or do you move quickly. You've done everything right and still you life is on the line. Myself, I have given much thought to this and in most situations when I have a blocker. I would rather be out there and see the danger coming then be on the apposite side of the truck and not see or know it is coming till the truck is pushed into me. So, while I certainly can under and even endorse working the side of the truck away from the roadway. Each situation may be different. I suggest becoming comfortable using controls on both sides that is why they are there. Sadly we know December is a Bad month is this industry for the number of Towers Down. Randall over the years, what have been the top 3 months of the year tow truck operators have been killed roadside. If you have any statistics which include tow operators injured could you include those. This is something I should have been doing over the past 20 years. I never could bring myself to do it and even sending out Tow Down Notifications takes something out of or does something to me. I would stop that if I did not believe it is important to get the word out in respect for our fallen. Back to reaching a segment of the industry that we have not reached with all the industry relations mentioned. I do not know what more to do other than just keep trying. The more we talk about it the more opportunities there are to bring others into the conversation which will spread the word. More Suggestions are always welcome as this Network of Towers continues to grow. A year form now the membership will be doubled and the posts will be even more active then it ever has been. Thanks for keeping the conversation alive!

Randall, Moose is right the awareness outweighs any ju ju that may exist. I will take it down for a few months if you think that it's bad Mo Jo, but if we happen to lose a member during that time, what would be the thought there? Many of us take that risk quite often and never speak a word of how close the call was... Our families do not want to hear it and certainly do not want to get that call.

I am seeing the same as Semi's are becoming the worse offenders of the Slow Down Move Over. There are so many running over the speed limits these days, you have to wonder what's going on as you often see the company is tracking them.

So, if the frame will bend by placing the vehicle on dollies and towing it on dollies then I generally use the analogy they should never drive over Rail Road Tracks, Speed Bumps, Rough Roads, Pot holes and come to think of it you know those guides in a car wash those are a definite No. Hog Wash is Right and I want them do do a video explaining in detail how the frame would bend. I doubt that video would ever be made, as this is just an excuse to forcest tow operators to roll back BMW's. If I were doing them the cost of the Roll Back would be twice what the cost of a regular tow truck and dollies would be. I would not except any BMW on Motor Club Call unless it were regular rates doubled and it would be justified by the risk factor. If an overwhelming number of Tow Companies would take control of mindless, senseless procedures such as these it would resonate quickly when BMW Owners were forced to wait hours or days and sign legal documents far and beyond any damage waiver. Yep, that's what it will take. You think I am joking, it only takes one or two dealers that take this seriously and inspect every tow in. When they find damage, likely and obviously prior to the tow they will attempt to charge the tow company for the repair. All it will take is one company that chooses not to fight it to send a wave throughout the BMW Dealers and the Towing Industry. Does BMW show where these stress points are? that would be good to know. If you cannot see them then what type of equipment do they use to detect them. And if months later there is an electrical issue because there wiring rides along the frame are they going to go back on the last tow company to transport the vehicle. Is there a Service Bulletin/Notification about this issue, Is it in the Owners Manual or is it just Verbal, if it is just Verbal then it is only a suggestion and there is no legal recourse, a company just could not tow into that dealer again. I think the Last tow I did to a BMW Dealer would be my Last, not worth the risk unless their willing to pay premium and sign off on the manner of transport.