TowNews

Taunton man killed after truck crashes, dangles off overpass on I-495 MILFORD, Mass. (WPRI) — An investigation is underway after a 24-year-old Taunton man was killed when his tow truck crashed on I-495 in Milford late Thursday night, according to Massachusetts State Police. Crews responded to the overpass at Route 16 around 11:30 p.m. and found the cab of the truck hanging off the edge of the bridge. The driver suffered fatal injuries, state police said. A 20-year-old Berkley woman was rescued from the cab and taken to the hospital with minor injuries. A preliminary investigation revealed that the truck was driving northbound when, for reasons still under investigation, it veered out of its lane striking the median guardrail and coming to a rest up and over it. The truck leaked fuel onto the roadway below but has since been cleaned up. A crane was used to pull the cab back up onto the highway and the truck was then towed off the bridge. Both roads have since been reopened. No other cars were involved. State police say they are still investigating whether speed or inclement weather conditions were contributing factors. RESOURCE LINK

Tow truck driver charged in hit-and-run death of a woman who stepped out of his moving vehicle in S. Minneapolis The driver left the scene but returned "some minutes later" to within a block of the incident only to leave again, according to the criminal complaint. Authorities have charged a tow-truck driver in the hit-and-run death of a woman who stepped out of his moving truck in south Minneapolis in August. Jordan A. Jewell, 26, of Arden Hills was charged in Hennepin County District Court last week with criminal vehicular homicide in connection with the death of 42-year-old Stacy A. Morrison, of St. Paul, on Aug. 21. Jewell was jailed on Sept. 1 and remains held in lieu of $150,000 bail ahead of a Sept. 20 court appearance. A message was left Tuesday with his attorney seeking a response to the allegations. Jewell was employed for a few weeks with Cedar Towing and was a probationary employee until being fired "immediately when became aware of his violation of existing [workplace] protocols," said company spokeswoman Amy Koch, who added that Jewell was not in contact with Morrison for towing services. "Mr. Jewell ... was trained in Cedar Towing's strict policy that no passengers are allowed in the trucks," Koch said. According to the criminal complaint: Police and paramedics were sent to S. Bloomington Avenue and E. Lake Street, where Morrison was down in the street and soon declared dead. Surveillance video showed a Cedar Towing truck heading south on Bloomington toward Lake shortly after 1 a.m. on Aug. 21, when the passenger door opened and Morrison "exited the moving tow truck and was then struck by the back tires," the complaint read. Jewell drove off but returned "some minutes later" to within a block of the incident only to leave again, the complaint continued. Police contacted Jewell's employer, Cedar Towing, and confirmed the driver's identity. A towing dispatcher said Jewell returned to the business and mentioned that a woman had jumped into his truck. Jewell told police that he picked up Morrison and she soon got out as he kept driving. He denied being aware that he ran over her. When asked about returning to the scene, Jewell said he saw people gather there but didn't know why. Court records show Jewell has numerous convictions in Minnesota for theft and illicit drug offenses. His driving history also includes convictions for failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk, operating a motorcycle without proper licensing and driving with a suspended license. Jewell's license was valid at the time of the alleged hit-and-run. Explaining why Cedar Towing decided to hire Jewell, Koch said that Jewell had a nonviolent criminal background and "was approved to participate in an immersion program to stabilize and re-enter the community." RESOURCE LINK

1 killed in crash on Clearlake Road near Cocoa, troopers say Tow truck, pickup crashed at King Street COCOA, Fla. – One person died Friday when a tow truck and a pickup truck crashed in the Cocoa area, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Troopers responded to the scene at 4:20 p.m. on Clearlake Road and King Street for a crash involving a Chevy pickup and Ford Tow Truck. According to the crash report, the pickup was driving east on State Road 520 (King Street) in the left turn lane and the tow truck was driving west on S.R. 520 approaching Clearlake Road. When the pickup attempted to make a left turn onto Clearlake Road it entered into the path of the tow truck. The tow truck struck the right side of the Chevy pickup. The 64-year-old driver of the pickup truck was pronounced dead on scene. The 28-year-old driver of the tow truck suffered minor injuries. Troopers have not identified the victim or the vehicle they were driving. No other information was available at the time of this report. The crash remains under investigation. RESOURCE LINK

Phoenix police investigating after tow truck driver was found shot and killed RESOURCE LINK UPDATED 09.04.21 Family heartbroken and pleading for help following murder of tow truck driver RESOURCE LINK with video

Truck collides with train in Lake Worth Beach A large truck was severely mangled after hitting a train early Thursday in Lake Worth Beach. It happened near South Dixie Highway between 12th Avenue and 14th Avenue. No injuries were reported as of Thursday afternoon. WPEC-News Channel 12 reported that, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, the driver of the truck stopped on the tracks for an unknown reason, but was not inside the truck at the time of the crash. Removal of the wreckage took hours, leading to traffic delays. Images appeared to show the cab of the truck with major damage to its front-end, off to one side of the track, while the train sits on the track. It’s unclear if the truck had an attached trailer at the time of the crash. Video from WPTV-Ch. 5 showed firefighters spraying foam on the truck’s cab to prevent fire, while deputies inspected the wreckage. RESOURCE LINK with video

Woman Charged With Intoxication Manslaughter After Slamming Into Tow Truck Operator, Knocking Him Off Overpass Tow truck driver killed while working on Dallas High 5 DALLAS - A tow truck driver was hit and killed on the Dallas High 5 interchange in North Dallas overnight. Dallas police said it happened around 10 p.m. as the driver was hooking up a disabled car on the ramp from Interstate 635 to the Central Expressway. The car was hit from behind by an SUV and the man was knocked over a railing. He fell about 50 feet to the road below where he was hit by several cars. Police said the tow truck’s flashing lights were on at the time. The woman who caused the crash was arrested and will face charges of intoxication manslaughter. RESOURCE LINK Updated Aug. 31st 11:30pm DALLAS — Updated at 11:02 p.m. with the tow truck driver's name. A tow truck driver was struck and killed on a High Five overpass in north Dallas on Monday night, and a suspect has been arrested, police said. Denise Chantel Alford, 35, faces an intoxication manslaughter charge in the crash, according to a police news release. The crash happened about 9:45 p.m. on the overpass from LBJ Freeway to southbound U.S. 75. The tow truck driver, later identified by the Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office as 35-year-old Garry McGee, was hooking up a vehicle to his truck when Alford, who was driving a 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe west on LBJ, struck the vehicle, police said. The collision knocked McGee off of the overpass and onto the freeway below, police said. McGee died at the scene. Garry McGee DFW Area Light Up 'Final Ride' held for tow truck driver killed by intoxicated woman FT. WORTH, Texas – In a heartfelt gesture for one of their own, tow truck drivers held a processional “Final Ride” for a man killed while doing his job. Garry McGee, an Army veteran, and tow truck operator, was killed on Aug. 30 while on the job. He had been hooking up a vehicle to his truck on LBJ Freeway. McGee was hit by a woman and thrown over the overpass and onto the freeway. She was later charged with intoxication manslaughter. FT. WORTH, Texas – In a heartfelt gesture for one of their own, tow truck drivers held a processional “Final Ride” for a man killed while doing his job. Volume 90% In a heartfelt gesture for one of their own, tow truck drivers held a processional “Final Ride” for a man killed on Aug. 30 - Raw Video Garry McGee, an Army veteran, and tow truck operator, was killed on Aug. 30 while on the job. He had been hooking up a vehicle to his truck on LBJ Freeway. McGee was hit by a woman and thrown over the overpass and onto the freeway. She was later charged with intoxication manslaughter. A “Final Ride” was held for Garry by numerous wrecker services, including his employer Apollo Wrecker Service. He leaves behind a wife and two daughters. RESOURCE LINK with video

WESTMORELAND — A utility pole was damaged on Valley View Road when some low hanging wires were hit by a passing vehicle Thursday afternoon, according to law enforcement officials. Sheriff’s deputies said Christopher Peck was driving a tow truck pulling a trailer loaded with an excavator on Valley View Road at about 2 p.m. when the truck and excavator hit the low hanging wires. Deputies said Peck was able to get out of the vehicle without injury. The road was closed temporarily to repair the utility pole and wires, authorities said. RESOURCE LINK

2 in critical condition after traffic accident in Macon The crash happened on Eisenhower Parkway at Brad Walsh Parkway just before 10 p.m. MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) —A man and woman are in critical condition after colliding with a tow truck Friday night. The crash happened on Eisenhower Parkway at Brad Walsh Parkway just before 10 p.m. Bibb County investigators say a Kitchen’s Towing Wrecker hit a Honda CRZ making a left onto Brad Walsh Parkway from Eisenhower Parkway. The driver of the Wrecker was taken to Atrium Health Navicent and listed in stable condition. The male driver and female passenger in the Honda were taken to Atrium Health Navicent, and listed in critical condition at this time. The traffic accident is under investigation. RESOURCE LINK

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. - Two people are dead and one is critically wounded after a wreck on the Florida Turnpike on Friday night. Troopers say a Ford pickup truck was traveling northbound on the Turnpike around 10 p.m. when the driver hit a tow truck operator trying to hook up a disabled vehicle. The tow truck driver was killed instantly. The driver and passenger of the pick-up were thrown when the truck overturned. The 34-year-old driver died. His young female passenger was taken to Arnold Palmer Children's Hospital. RESOURCE LINK with video

ROANE COUNTY BUSINESSMAN KILLED IN TOW TRUCK ACCIDENT From Dudley Evans/BBB TV12 We are still awaiting the Harriman Police Department to confirm the person killed in yesterday evenings single vehicle wreck on Pansy Hill Road, but Facebook reports have confirmed the owner and operator of Wheels Towing, Darrell Fink, has died after the accident on Pansy Hill Road in Harriman Thursday Evening. Harriman Police and Fire responded to the scene just before 6:30, after receiving a call that a Wheels Towing truck ran off the road and struck a utility pole at the intersection of Vernal Drive. It was reported that Fink was unresponsive at the scene and an ambulance did take him to Roane Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead. Fink’s vehicle was the only one involved in the accident and he was the lone occupant in the truck. It appears that he may have had a medical condition while driving that caused him to run off the road. Pansy Hill Road was shut down to traffic at the scene for about an hour. RESOURCE LINK

Cherry Creek Trial pushed back against Lakewood man who claims police harassment A judge in Jefferson County on Monday allowed the date for the jury hearing to be postponed a Lakewood man who was involved in a physical altercation with a tow truck driver in February and was eventually arrested by police. Ameer Allen is charged with four offenses including assault, resisting arrest, obstruction of a peace officer, and harassment with a maximum imprisonment of four years and a fine of up to $ 7,750, with no court fees. But Allen, who is Black, says he was actually the victim in the case and was attacked by the tow truck driver and then forcibly arrested without warning by three police officers who suspected he was the culprit. The motion to continue on August 23 – which was filed on the day the trial began – was filed by Allen’s attorney, Anita Springsteen, because they lacked an important witness in their case. More information recently emerged about one of the officers who arrested Allen, who was involved in another serious case of alleged police brutality and racial profiling in 2012. RESOURCE LINK

Alex Hayes killed by hit and run driver Alex Hayes, 21, was changing a tire on the side of I-10 near MP 289 Saturday night when he was hit by a semi-truck. The driver fled the scene. "It's devastating. Our family just wants to know what happened. Right now, we are in the dark about what happened, we have very little information and I think at this point we just want to know what happened."

Crash involving tow truck, semi north of Waterloo A Crash involving a Tow Truck and a Semi-Trailer occurred Tuesday at 1:30 on Route 5 at Hanover Rd. north of Waterloo. There were no injuries. Resource Link

Tow truck driver stabbed in face, then run over while calling 911, Oklahoma cops say Tulsa police arrested Kendrick Jones shortly after the Sunday attack on charges of assault with a deadly weapon. Surveillance camera footage captured the entire incident, according to investigators. The tow truck driver was on his break around 8:45 p.m. when Jones thrust a pair of scissors into his face, police said. The driver pulled out his phone and called 911. As he was speaking to an operator, Jones hit him with his car, dragged the tow truck driver 60 feet, then ran over him, police said. Jones left the scene but called police and told them he ran the man over, according to TPD. Officers arrived soon after and arrested Jones. The tow truck driver was taken to a hospital “with significant trauma to his head and body,” police said. RESOURCE LINK Tulsa man arrested for stabbing tow truck driver, running him over, police say Tulsa police arrested a man after he allegedly stabbed a tow truck driver with scissors then run him over with a car Sunday. Police say officers were called to a convenience store at 41st and Memorial around 8:45 p.m. for reports of an assault with a deadly weapon. The victim, a tow truck driver who was on his break, called 911 to report the suspect, identified as Kendrick Jones, had hit and stabbed him in the face with a pair of scissors and was trying to run him over with a car. The tow truck driver was on the phone with police dispatch when Jones hit him with the car, dragged him about 20 yards, then ran him over and left the scene. Shortly after, Jones called 911 to report that he'd run over the victim. Officers responded to Jones's location and arrested him near 69th and Sheridan. The victim was taken to the hospital with significant trauma to his head and body. Officers reviewed surveillance video from the convenience store, which confirmed all of the events. Jones was arrested for two counts of assault with a deadly weapon. He's a previously convicted felon, police say. RESOURCE LINK

ER24 and other services arrived on scene at 12:45 to find three trucks blocking the highway. Two men were injured on Friday afternoon, one seriously, when a tow truck crashed into another truck on the N3 near the Van Buuren off-ramp in Bedfordview. ER24 and other services arrived on scene at 12:45 to find three trucks blocking the highway. Fuel had begun to leak from one of the trucks and was spreading across the highway. Medics assessed the patients and found that one man had sustained a serious injury to his leg and was in a serious condition, while a second man had sustained minor injuries. Medics treated the men and provided the seriously injured with pain-relief medications. Once treated, the seriously injured man was airlifted to a nearby hospital by a private medical helicopter, while the second man was transported by ambulance. Local authorities were on scene for further investigations. RESOURCE LINK

I-70 eastbound near Grand reopens after closing for 3 hours due to crash ST. LOUIS – All lanes of I-70 eastbound near Grand were shut down for three hours due to a rollover crash Friday morning. The rollover crash happened at I-70 at Adelaide just before 8:20 a.m. Friday. I-70 was closed until about 11:30 a.m. Police received an accident with injuries call involving a tow truck and a sedan with the sedan being the overturned vehicle. EMS transported a person to the hospital. FOX 2’s traffic reporter Molly Rose will continue to keep motorists up to date on this situation. There were no further updates at this time. RESOURCE LINK UPDATED -8.21.21 Car drives onto flatbed, hits and kills tow truck driver on I-70 ST. LOUIS (KMOV.com) – A tow truck driver was killed when a car hit him, drove up his truck's flatbed ramp and then vaulted off and flipped over on its roof on I-70 in North City Friday morning. Police tell News 4 that 23-year-old Anthony McCoy was outside his tow truck, standing in the third lane of eastbound I-70 near Adelaide, trying to tow a car. The right side of an oncoming 2016 Honda Accord hit McCoy, went up the tow truck's flatbed ramp and vaulted off the top of the flatbed. The Accord then landed, rolled onto its roof and slid 200 feet before it came to a rest. McCoy was taken to a hospital, where he later died. The driver of the Accord was not hurt. The accident happened around 8:30 a.m. and closed a portion of eastbound I-70. The lanes reopened to traffic around 11:30 a.m. RESOURCE LINK

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Councilors Liz Breadon and Lydia Edwards have filed legislation to modernize and reform involuntary private vehicle towing and relocation practices in Boston. The proposed ordinance would establish standards for private towing companies, bringing into line practices of some companies that vehicle owners, public agencies, and consumer watchdogs have viewed as manipulative and predatory. The regulations come at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the ability of residents to cover essential everyday costs such as food, rent, and car payments, and recent studies have shown just 39% of U.S. adults could afford a $1,000 unexpected expense. The proposal, Ordinance Regulating Predatory Towing Practices and Establishing a Towing Bill of Rights will be introduced by councilors Breadon and Edwards at the Boston City Council meeting on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. Standards established by the ordinance include mandating that towing companies publish and display their rates, accept payment via credit card as opposed to solely cash, requiring a photograph of the vehicle’s parked position before towing, providing itemized bills detailing charges and reimbursement for damages related to towing or storage. The legislation also prohibits tow operators from cruising or surveilling private property without cause, as an involuntary tow must first be initiated by a request from a private property owner. Under the ordinance, the Boston Transportation Department would be tasked with proposing guidelines for “No Parking” signs for private property owners to provide sufficient notice of enforced towing. The department would publish and distribute a Boston Towing Bill of Rights to inform consumers of their rights when their vehicle is towed, how to recognize predatory towing practices and an unlawful tow, provide details on how to retrieve their vehicle and how to file a complaint of an unlawful practice. An annual report would be submitted to the City Clerk summarizing the financial statements of tow companies as reported to and regulated by the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities Transportation Oversight Division. The ordinance follows the recommendations outlined in a May 2021 report by the Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group (MASSPIRG), “Getting Off the Hook of a Predatory Tow in Massachusetts.” The MASSPIRG report identified existing protections in Massachusetts, including a maximum tow rate of $108, maximum storage rates of $35 per 24-hour period, notification of the tow company to law enforcement of an involuntary tow, release of a vehicle for an incomplete tow at a “drop fee” no greater than half the towing cost, and reimbursement for an unauthorized tow. “Losing a vehicle, even temporarily, can have profound impacts on an individual and their family’s livelihood and economic stability,” said District 9 City Councilor Liz Breadon. “People who rely on their cars may lose access to work, education, health care, and social services due to an unexpected tow. We certainly need to get more cars off our streets and prioritize affordable, reliable, and accessible public transit and safer biking, but for working-class residents who have had to move further from accessible transit, having a vehicle could be their lifeline. We absolutely must strengthen our regulations to reign in predatory practices of bad actors in the towing industry.” “Tow operators who cruise or hunt for cars to tow, without cause or first receiving a request from the owner or business, is just plain wrong and unethical,” said District 1 City Councilor Lydia Edwards. “Now is the time to outlaw predatory towing, when families can ill afford to be without their vehicle. These are common sense updates that would help fight back against an industry that is often seen as manipulative and unfair.” “If passed, these new towing rules are important consumer protections for Boston residents and those who work in and visit the city. Under the best circumstances, getting towed is an ordeal, even when justified,” said Deirdre Cummings, Consumer Program Director for MASSPIRG. “For many drivers, however, the situation is compounded because the current consumer protections are weak and outdated. Preventing tow companies from only taking cash, requiring better disclosure of rates and itemized bills, requiring a photograph of the car before a tow, and preventing the practice of predatory towing are common sense yet critical consumer protections.” RESOURCE LINK

Occurred on August 2, 2021 / Plentywood, Montana, USA

Tow truck catches fire on I-94 in Albion Photo by: Michigan State Police ALBION, Mich. — A tow truck caught fire Tuesday morning on I-94 in Albion, according to Michigan State Police. The fire has since been extinguished, but one lane was still closed as of 9:30 a.m. for cleanup near exit 121. MSP urged drivers to use caution when traveling through the area until the scene is clear. RESOURCE LINK

Driver falls asleep at the wheel, slams into tow truck on Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — A driver fell asleep at the wheel and slammed into the back of a tow truck at the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel (HRBT) early Saturday morning. Wilson Christopher Lee was behind the wheel of his 2009 Mercedes traveling eastbound on the HRBT just after 4 a.m. when the accident happened. Virginia State Police responded to the scene. A Dodge 5500 tow truck was stopped inside a work zone with its lights on, and the driver was out of the vehicle recovering debris. Lee fell asleep at the wheel when his Mercedes slammed into the back of the tow truck. The impact pushed the truck over 391 feet. Lee suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken to Norfolk Sentara Hospital. He was wearing his seatbelt, and alcohol was not a contributing factor. Lee has been charged with reckless driving. RESOURCE LINK

Single-vehicle tow truck rollover crash Plum Grove Rd and State Pkwy Schaumburg Police, firefighters, and paramedics from Schaumburg responded about 10:26 a.m. Saturday, August 14, 2021 to a report of a rollover crash with injuries and possible entrapment at Plum Grove Road and East State Parkway in Schaumburg. Police, firefighters and paramedics on arrival discovered a single-vehicle crash at the roundabout intersection with a tow truck on its roof. The driver of the tow truck was outside the vehicle, and had not been entrapped in the tow truck. Several crews from Redmon’s Village Towing uprighted the tow truck, cleaned up the scene, and towed the vehicle away. Initially no word from the Schaumburg Police Department, but it appeared the driver will be facing some traffic citations. The information in this article is an early report published before any summary information was confirmed or released by police or fire authorities. RESOURCE LINK with video

Pennsylvania’s Move Over Law requires drivers approaching an emergency response area who are unable to safely merge into a lane farther away from the response area to "pass the emergency response area at a speed of no more than 20 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit and reasonable for safely passing." An emergency response area is where an emergency vehicle has its lights flashing, or where road crews or emergency responders have lighted flares, posted signs, or try to warn travelers.

Golfers hit links for annual David Duchnik Memorial Golf Tournament GREENFIELD TOWNSHIP, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Some golfing Saturday with a purpose in Lackawanna County. Dozens of golfers hit the links at Sleepy Hollow Golf Course for the annual David Duchnik Memorial Golf Tournament. Golfers played for prizes while enjoying a summer day on the greens. The tournament raises funds to help promote awareness of the “Slow Down, Move Over” law to protect first responders at roadside emergencies. The tow truck operator for whom the tournament is named was killed by a trucker who barreled into the roadside emergency scene. “So to all those people, this is why we are able to honor and in a way celebrate David, but also make sure that this does not happen to another family,” Duchni’s wife, Marisa Duchnik said. Money the tournament brings in helps pay for awareness billboards and even student scholarships. RESOURCE LINK with video