TowNews

1.20PM: The Capricorn Highway has been closed in both directions about 6km east of Bluff to allow access for emergency services crews. A Capricorn Rescue chopper has arrived at the scene of the single-truck crash to take one patient with serious injuries to Rockhampton. A tow truck driver was trapped inside the vehicle after it veered off the road and crashed into trees along the Capricorn Highway near Bluff on Tuesday. The man in his 50s sustained serious injuries, including possible head, spinal, abdominal and severe lower limb injuries when the vehicle crashed just before 12pm. Queensland Fire and Emergency Services extricated the man, and sole occupant of the vehicle, before he was flown to Rockhampton Base Hospital on-board the Rescue 300 helicopter. He was treated by the on-board Critical Care Paramedic and Doctor and in a stable condition before leaving the site of the incident. RESOURCE LINK

Companion bill makes it OK to pay in community service PHOENIX — Speeding past a stopped police vehicle or tow truck could soon take a big chunk out of your wallet. But you might be able to work it off — at $12.15 an hour. The state House has voted to boost the penalty on those who violate Arizona's Move Over Law. That statute spells out that motorists approaching a stopped vehicle with flashing lights must move over to a lane not adjacent to that car or truck. And if that's not possible, they are required to at least slow down. Current law sets the maximum penalty at $250. But Angela Barnett, executive director of the Arizona Professional Towing and Recovery Association, said that apparently isn't enough to get the attention of motorists. During hearings on House Bill 2294, she told lawmakers that 46 "responders'' stopped on the side of roads were killed last year nationwide by drivers who ran into them. That includes not just state and local police but operators of tow trucks. And in Arizona the tally also included a worker for the state Department of Transportation incidence response unit, "all responders that were just trying to do their job.'' The measure sponsored by Rep. Kevin Payne, R-Peoria, which now goes to the governor, sets the penalty for a first violation at $275. A second offense within five years will set the driver back $500, with a $1,000 fine for a third or subsequent violation within that time period. If you can't afford it, Rep. Leo Biasiucci has a solution. The Lake Havasu City Republican got colleagues to approve legislation that allows a judge to let any person work off a traffic fine through community service. The idea, he testified in committee, was borne out of his own experience when he got a ticket in Phoenix for parking in an alley. "No signs were posted so I decided to fight it,'' Rep. Biasiucci said. That landed him in municipal court where he found others also seeking to get out of their citations. "Over and over again I kept seeing people who were held responsible for their violations,'' he said. "They couldn't afford it and they would ask the judge for some kind of payment plan. What Biasiucci said he learned is that a payment plan costs $30 to set up. "I thought to myself that this is crazy that you have people who are getting a speeding ticket, they can't afford the ticket, and they just keep going down this rabbit hole,'' he said, with the failure to pay leading to even more fines. "And that's not what we want,'' Rep. Biasiucci said. "We don't want these people losing their license, losing their registrations because they couldn't pay a speeding ticket.'' His House Bill 2110 allows — but does not require — a judge to offer an option for community service. It would be up to the judge to decide where and what. "It's a win-win,'' Rep. Biasiucci said of his bill which has been approved by the House and Senate and now awaits gubernatorial action. "You have people giving back to the community,'' he continued. "They're doing community service. They're paying off their fines.'' The work would be credited at the hourly rate of the state minimum wage. That is currently $12.15 an hour but, by law, is adjusted annually to account for inflation. Rep. Biasiucci never did tell his colleagues whether he beat that traffic ticket. RESOURCE LINK

RESOURCE LINK with video

PERRY TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WANE) – A trucker traveling eastbound on State Route 117 by Thayer Road in Ohio pulled over his Freightliner to inspect possible vehicle damage when he was struck twice by separate cars and died as the result of his injuries on Friday at 9:06 p.m. Ohio State Highway Patrol said that Steven Evans, 52, of Lima, stopped in the eastbound lane and exited the Freightliner. While assessing the possible vehicle damage, Evans was on the left side of the vehicle, in the westbound lane. A Honda Accord, driven by Brandon James, 20, of Waynesfield, traveled westbound and struck Evans. A Chevrolet Sonic, driven by Jade Smith, 18, of Wapakoneta, was traveling westbound and struck Evans. Evans was pronounced deceased, at the scene, by Perry Township EMS and was transported by The Allen County Coroner’s Office. James was treated at the scene for minor injuries, and Smith was not injured. The Lima Post was assisted on scene by the Perry Township Fire and EMS, Allen County Coroner’s Office, Beaverdam Fleet Services, and Able’s Wrecker. The crash remains under investigation. https://www.wane.com/news/national-world/ohio-trucker-dies-after-struck-twice-by-oncoming-cars-while-standing-roadside/

WSP: Three dead, two injured in crash on NB I-5 North near Longview COWLITZ COUNTY, WA (KPTV) - Three people were killed in a crash onNorthbound Interstate 5 near Longview on Saturday. Washington State Patrol said the crash happened just after 8:00 a.m. at milepost 46. A vehicle had spun out on I-5, according to WSP. The driver was uninjured and called for a ride while a tow truck was hitching up his car. When his ride arrived, the vehicle carrying two people inside was rammed by a third vehicle. The driver of the first vehicle was injured and taken to the hospital. The two occupants inside the second car and the tow truck driver died in the crash. The driver of the third car was seriously injured, taken to the hospital and charged with three counts of vehicular homicide. RESOURCE LINK More Information Added: CASTLE ROCK, Wash. (AP) — A woman faces manslaughter charges following a crash on Interstate 5 that killed three people near Castle Rock. The Washington State Patrol says it is investigating whether 43-year-old Anna-Christie Ireland was driving under the influence when her vehicle struck a vehicle parked on the side of the highway Saturday. The impact pushed the second vehicle into a tow truck driver at the scene. KOIN-TV reports the tow truck driver and two passengers in the parked vehicle were killed. The identities of those killed weren’t immediately released. The patrol says Ireland is under investigation of three vehicular manslaughter charges. It wasn’t immediately known if Ireland had a lawyer who could speak on her behalf. RESOURCE LINK From Todd Leiss: On Saturday, April 24th a tow truck operator in Longview, Washington was struck & killed in a crash on Northbound Interstate 5 near Longview. The Tow Operator becomes the 19th Emergency Responder Struck & Killed in the first 113 days of 2021, one emergency responder struck and killed every six days on average. In 2021, 7 Tow Truck Operators, 10 Law Enforcement Officers, 1 Fire Police Officer, and 1 Safety Service Patrol Operators have been struck and killed with hundreds of other emergency responders struck and injured. Move Over and Slow Down for emergency responders working at incident scenes or alongside the roadway, if you can't Move Over, you must still Slow Down. Stop killing emergency responders who are willing to respond to help others. Tow Operator Arthur E. Anderson, 63 of Affordable Towing, Longview, Washington becomes the 19th Emergency Responder stuck & killed in the United States in 2021, the 7th tow truck operator. National Struck-By Heroes Move Over Pennsylvania PennTIME - Pennsylvania Statewide Traffic Incident Management Group Emergency Responder Safety Institute Wreck on I-5 near Castle Rock kills 3 Battle Ground residents, Longview tow truck driver dead A car accident on Interstate 5 near Castle Rock killed three people and injured two others Saturday morning, according to the Washington State Patrol. At about 8 a.m., a car driven by 43-year-old Anna-Christie Ireland of Longview veered into a car parked on the shoulder of the freeway, shoving it into a tow truck that was providing assistance. Ireland faces three counts of vehicular homicide, according to the state patrol. She was taken to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver for her injuries. Richard H. Stoker, 55, and Karen Stoker, 54, both of Battle Ground, died at the scene. Travis H. Stoker, a 25-year-old Battle Ground resident and a passenger in the same car, was injured and taken to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center. Their vehicle was parked on the shoulder of the freeway near milepost 45, behind a tow truck with its lights flashing driven by Arthur E. Anderson, a 63-year-old Longview resident. Anderson was also killed at the scene. Washington State Patrol is investigating the accident’s cause. RESOURCE LINK UPDATE: Longview tow truck company owner 1 of 3 people killed in Interstate 5 crash Saturday south of Castle Rock he owner of a Longview tow-truck company was one of three people killed in a crash Saturday morning on Interstate 5 south of Castle Rock when authorities say an impaired driver hit a vehicle parked on the shoulder. At about 7:50 a.m., Anna-Christie Ireland, 43, of Longview was driving north on I-5 when her vehicle left the road and hit a 2013 Kia Sorento parked on the right shoulder behind an Affordable Towing truck with its emergency lights on, according to the Washington State Patrol. The crash pushed the Kia into the tow truck and operator Arthur Anderson, 63, of Longview. Anderson died at the scene. Battle Ground residents Richard Stoker, 55, and Karen Stoker, 54 were in the Kia and died at the scene. Passenger Travis Stoker, 25, of Battle Ground was injured and taken to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver. Ireland was injured and taken to PeaceHealth Southwest. She faces three charges of vehicular homicide, according to the patrol. The crash's cause is under investigation, but drugs or alcohol were involved, according to the patrol. Anderson’s daughter, Sparkle Chisum, said her father was from Naselle and had been in the towing business for more than 35 years. He owned Affordable Towing. “He was a good community man, a great dad and grandpa,” she said. “He would do anything for anybody. He always was a helping hand.” Cowlitz County Sheriff Brad Thurman offered his condolences and recognized Anderson’s years of service in a Facebook post Monday. “In law enforcement, we work with many different people in many different roles. A group that we work very close with are tow truck operators. This past weekend, Art Anderson (owner of Affordable Towing) was tragically killed in a traffic accident that occurred while he was simply doing his job,” Thurman wrote in the post. “Thank you Art. You will be missed.” Chisum set up a GoFundMe to help with funeral expenses online at gofundme.com/f/affordable-towing-family-art-anderson.

Louisiana Sate Police - TROOP L NEWS RELEASE April 23, 2021 Tow Truck Operator Killed in Crash on Interstate 12 Covington – On Friday, April 23rd, 2021, shortly before 6:00 AM, Troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop L responded to a fatal crash on Interstate 12 eastbound near LA 21 in St. Tammany Parish. The crash has claimed the life of 23-year-old Tyler Patrick Quave of Bush. The initial investigation led Troopers to determine that the crash occurred as Quave, a tow truck operator, was in the process of assisting a stranded motorist on the Interstate 12 eastbound right shoulder. Quave parked his 2018 International 4300 tow truck partially on the right shoulder and partially in the right exit lane to Brewster Rd. The truck’s emergency recovery lights were activated and Quave was wearing his uniform company shirt with reflective material. While loading the disabled vehicle, Quave was standing in the exit lane to the left of the tow truck. As Quave was loading the vehicle, a 2017 Nissan VN200 Van was traveling eastbound on the exit ramp to Brewster Rd. The driver of the Nissan failed to change lanes and sideswiped the tow truck and struck Quave. Quave sustained fatal injuries in the crash and was pronounced deceased on scene. The driver of the Nissan was not injured. Impairment is not suspected as a contributing factor in this crash. As part of the ongoing investigation, routine toxicology tests are pending analysis. At the conclusion of the investigation, Troopers will consult with the St. Tammany Parish District Attorney’s Office in reference to any criminal or traffic charges. Troopers urge citizens to remember that Louisiana’s “Move Over” law keeps EVERYONE safe. The “Move Over” requirement applies not only to first responders such as law enforcement, ambulance, and fire/rescue crews, but also to highway workers, tow and recovery truck operators, and any vehicle utilizing hazard/warning lights. Please MOVE OVER to keep them safe! Contact Information: Sgt. Dustin Dwight Louisiana State Police Public Affairs Section To view the replies click the Resource Link RESOURCE LINK and don't forget to leave your in this topic. It seems we have gotten away from replying. It's time to bring those back for the families.

23-year-old tow truck driver killed in crash while assisting stranded driver NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - One man is dead after a crash on I-12 Friday morning (April 23), police say. According to Louisiana State Police, shortly before 6 a.m., Tyler Patrick Quave, a 23-year-old tow truck operator from Bush, was in the process of helping a stranded driver on the shoulder of I-12 eastbound. Quave parked his tow truck partially on the right shoulder and partially in the right exit lane to Brewster Road with the truck’s emergency lights activated. Police say Quave was wearing his reflective uniform company shirt. As Quave was loading the disabled vehicle, a Nissan Van traveling eastbound on the exit ramp failed to change lanes and sideswiped the tow truck, striking Quave. Quave sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead on the scene, police confirm. The driver of the Nissan was not injured. Impairment is not suspected to be a factor in the crash. Routine toxicology tests are pending analysis. Troopers will consult with St. Tammany Parish officials to determine if any criminal or traffic charges need to be pursued. RESOURCE LINK

Woman struck, killed by tow truck on Semoran Blvd: report A 48-year-old woman was struck and killed by a tow truck Tuesday night in Orlando, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The incident was reported at around 11:30 p.m. near the intersection of Semoran Boulevard and Cornelia Avenue, just east of Baldwin Park, said the FHP’s Lt. Kim Montes. The truck driver, a 35-year-old Orlando man, was driving a 2018 Ford F-450 south on Semoran in the center lane, Montes said. As he did so, the woman, who is from New York, was crossing Semoran from east to west, not on or near a crosswalk, Montes said. The woman walked into the path of the truck and was struck by the front bumper, Montes said. The woman was transported to Advent Health East, where she was later pronounced dead. A WKMG report indicates the truck was from Constellation Towing & Recovery. No information regarding the tow truck driver has been released at this time. The crash remains under investigation. This is a developing story, check back here for more updates. RESOURCE LINK

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Two people were seriously hurt in a crash involving a tow truck. Police say a pickup truck collided with a tow truck on West Saw Mill Run Boulevard near Crane Avenue on Tuesday evening. A woman was thrown from the pickup truck and critically injured. A man driving the pickup truck was last listed in serious condition. RESOURCE LINK with video Jeff Himler, Tribune-Review, Greensburg, Pa. Wed, April 21, 2021, 6:03 AM·1 min read Apr. 21—Three people were injured, one critically, in a Tuesday evening collision of a tow truck and pickup truck on Route 51 in Pittsburgh. A female passenger was ejected from the pickup truck and was in critical condition, according to a Pittsburgh Public Safety spokeswoman. The pickup's male driver was in serious condition, the spokeswoman said. Both were taken by ambulance to a local hospital. The male driver of the tow truck suffered a shoulder injury, according to the spokeswoman. The truck is owned by McGann and Chester, she said. The crash was reported just after 6:30 p.m. on West Saw Mill Run Boulevard, near Crane Avenue. The Pittsburgh Police Collision Investigation Unit responded, and the investigation is continuing. Additional details weren't immediately available. RESOURCE LINK

Chicago tow truck driver to be featured in new A&E reality show uses business to give back Windy City Live: There's a new reality show on A&E that depicts the dangerous conditions they face every day. Chicago native Early Walker, who owns Cook County's W&W Towing and is featured on the show, spoke to "Windy City LIVE" co-hosts Val Warner & Ryan Chiaverini about how he grew his business from one single truck and uses it to do good.

Watch: Tow truck driver moves burning dumpster away from store in St. Paul’s Highland Park St. Paul police are crediting a tow truck driver with using his vehicle to move a dumpster that had been set ablaze away from a business — which kept the fire from spreading to the building. Dean Mathisen, who works for PLC Towing, dialed 911 to report the fire in Highland Park at about 1:55 a.m. Tuesday. He said he saw “flames shoot out the top of the dumpster” behind MSP Tobacco and Vapor in Sibley Plaza on West Seventh Street. Mathisen said he saw a man take off running and tried to keep an eye on where he was going, but he lost him. “With that I said, ‘I can’t follow him anymore, but I’m going at least try and make sure the business is safe,'” Mathisen recounted later Tuesday. Mathisen, 35, said he used the truck’s wheel lift to pick up the dumpster, move it away from the building and put it in the center of the parking lot. His tow truck is equipped with a dash camera and he posted video to TikTok that showed him moving the dumpster. Resource Link Not Available.

West Des Moines police officer sues southern Iowa casino for over-serving drunk driver that struck him A West Des Moines police officer seriously injured by an alleged drunk driver last year has sued the driver as well as the southern Iowa casino where he claims bartenders overserved the other motorist before the crash. Officer Jon Kaufman was awaiting a tow truck to remove another vehicle from the side of Interstate 35 near Westown Parkway just after midnight on Nov. 8 when a car driven by Jon Schwartz, 61, of Kellogg struck the car he was sitting in, seriously injuring both men. Schwartz was charged in December with serious injury by vehicle and first-offence OWI. He allegedly admitted to investigators that he had been drinking alcohol and was playing a movie on the dashboard of his vehicle when the accident occurred, and that he had the cruise control set and relied too much on vehicle lane assist technology, according to an Iowa State Patrol incident report obtained by the Des Moines Register. A blood test taken two hours after the crash showed Schwartz with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.104, according to court records. Kaufman's lawsuit, filed Tuesday, names Schwartz as a defendant, as well as the car rental company Hertz, which owned the car he was driving at the time. Kaufman's wife, Dena, is also listed as a plaintiff. Schwartz does not have an attorney listed yet in the civil suit, and a message left with his criminal defense attorney was not returned. Hertz did not respond to a request for comment. The lawsuit also includes claims against a number of entities related to Lakeside Hotel Casino in Osceola, where Schwartz allegedly spent the day drinking before the crash. The so-called "dramshop" claim alleges that Lakeside employees "knew, or should have known, that Schwartz was intoxicated, or would become intoxicated" as they continued to serve Schwartz throughout the afternoon of Nov. Named in the suit are HGI-Lakeside LLC, New York-based Z Capital Group, and Las Vegas-based Affinity Gaming. A representative for Z Capital declined to comment via email. A message left with management at the casino Friday was not returned by deadline, and Affinity did not respond to a message seeking comment. In an interview, Kaufman's attorney, Erik Luthens, said investigators obtained surveillance footage showing that Schwartz had consumed "at least 11 beers" starting at about 4 p.m. on Nov. 7. He said another patron at the casino contacted police after the crash and said that he had tried to dissuade Schwartz from driving, and even challenged him to do a straight-line walk like that used in field sobriety tests, which Schwartz could not — which was also captured by security cameras. After Schwartz left, the patron said he alerted employees at the casino. Luthens said the casino did not contact police or take any other action based on that warning. A West Des Moines police spokesman declined to comment on or confirm any findings of the investigation, but said Kaufman returned to full duty with the department in March. Kaufman's injuries in the crash included a serious head injury, Luthens said. When his wife, then eight months pregnant with their first child, arrived at the hospital, she was told doctors didn't think he would survive. "He was in and out of consciousness for about a week and then he pulled through," he said. Although Kaufman has recovered enough to return to work and his medical bills were covered by his employer, Luthens said there's a possibility he'll face complications down the road from such an injury. "This incident happened on Nov. 8 and we're in April, so it's very early on," he said. "... Whatever monetary damages they'd receive, you'd rather just have your normal life back rather than a long-term injury or problems from an incident like this." None of the defendants in Kaufman's suit had attorneys listed Friday, and no responses had been filed. Schwartz is scheduled to stand trial for his criminal charges in September. RESOURCE LINK

Police were called to May’s towing on Chestnut Ave. SE Sunday morning to investigate a report of vandalism. The owner of a Warren towing company found hundreds of dollars in damage to his business over the weekend. Police were called to May’s towing on Chestnut Ave. SE Sunday morning to investigate a report of vandalism. Surveillance video shows a couple arriving in a car. A man got out of the car and shoved his fist through a garage door window. The man then jumped up and down on a truck, damaging the hood. The report says the man then used a piece of wood to smash the window of a tow truck. The couple drove away in the car, leaving an estimated $600 in damage behind. RESOURCE LINK

Two people killed in crash involving tow truck near 83rd Ave and McDowell PHOENIX — The Phoenix Fire Department says two people were killed in a crash involving a tow truck Friday night. Firefighters say they responded to reports of a vehicle that crashed into a tow truck near 83rd Avenue and McDowell Road just after 6 p.m. When firefighters got on scene, the passenger vehicle was engulfed in flames and two people were trapped inside. The fire was extinguished but the two people inside the vehicle were pronounced deceased at the scene. Phoenix police say the vehicle involved crossed over a median into oncoming traffic when it hit the tow truck head-on. Police say the two people killed were an adult male and an adult female. Their identities have not been released. RESOURCE LINK

A Coral Springs man was arrested for assaulting a police officer and violating his probation after an altercation with a tow truck driver. On April 9, the Coral Springs Police Department responded to a 911 call near the 10800 block of West Sample Road. Officers encountered a visibly upset man, later identified as Darrin Antuwan Garrett, 44, who was arguing with a tow truck driver. There were no details in the report about why Garrett’s car was getting towed by the driver. According to police, they immediately recognized Garrett as someone they have dealt with on prior occasions, most notably, a recent incident where he was arrested and placed on probation for shooting a firearm at a building and making threats. He is also classified as a violent felon. Officers noted that Garrett is a very large man at an estimated 6-foot-6 inches and 300 pounds, so they used extreme caution in attempting to diffuse the situation before it escalated further. Their immediate intention was not to arrest him but to break up the disturbance that led to the 911 call. Officers asked Garrett to go back upstairs to his apartment and calm down, but as Garrett approached the elevator, he ran back towards the tow truck to reengage the situation. RESOURCE LINK

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KTXL) – Sacramento firefighters are trying to extinguish a fire at a tow yard that started just before 8 p.m. According to the fire department, there are multiple cars on fire at the tow yard on Dry Creek Road near Vinci Avenue. Since there are not any water hydrants available, firefighters have to use a tanker. No injuries have been reported. RESOURCE LINK with video

Burson accident leaves Angels Camp man with major injuries An Angels Camp man was hospitalized with major injuries following a car accident at the intersection of Burson Road and Highway 12 on Thursday, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported. Around 5:20 p.m., Gabriel Fernandez, 34, of Modesto, was driving a 2006 Nissan Murano southbound on Burson Road, while Sammie Franks, 55, of Angels Camp, was driving a 2009 Dodge tow truck eastbound on Highway 12. “Mr. Fernandez drove the Nissan southbound onto State Route 12 directly into the path of the Dodge,” a CHP press release reads. “The front of the Dodge collided into the right side of the Nissan. After the initial collision, the Dodge continued, out of control, and collided into the support structure of the overhang on the front of the Burson Market, causing it to collapse.” The Dodge collided with an unoccupied Chevrolet pickup truck that was parked under the overhang, and then hit a Toyota Tundra parked just to the east of the market. “After the initial collision, the Nissan traveled in a northeasterly direction where it left the roadway and collided into a barbed wire fence, coming to rest in a field,” the release reads. “Mr. Franks sustained major injuries and was flown from the scene to Doctors Medical Center in Modesto. Mr. Fernandez was flown from the scene to Modesto Memorial Hospital.” Following his release from the hospital later that day, Fernandez was arrested for DUI causing injuries to another and booked into the Calaveras County Jail. RESOURCE LINK

Found on Indiana State Police Indianapolis District FB Page: This morning on I-69 Senior Trooper Patterson was sitting behind a tow truck that was hooking up to a car. The driver of the brown Ford lost control & hit the back of Patterson’s car. Both the Trooper and Tow Truck driver were outside the vehicles but thankfully uninjured. The driver of the Ford was transported to an area hospital by Noblesville Fire Department, he was alert and conscious. The occupants of the other car were not injured.

Attorney for accused hit-and-run driver: 'Emotions fueling prosecution's case' It’s the moments after the fatal crash on the 215 Beltway in March, and what Colette Despain did then and in the hours that followed, that were the focus of her preliminary hearing. Prosecutors are trying to prove to a judge the death of Ryan Billotte was a crime, while Despain’s defense argues it was just an accident. But what did happen and what does state law say needs to happen? In early March, Billotte was helping a motorist on the 215. He was outside his tow truck when police say Colette Despain hit him with her white van. Billotte died at the hospital. Despain's defense says she reported the collision to Nevada Highway Patrol the next afternoon, and their headquarters was closed when the crash happened. State law says a driver must stay on the scene or return to the scene of a crash to give aid and report the crash. The death of Billotte was met by vigils and community grief; those emotions, the defense says, is what is driving the prosecution's case. Despain is back in court on April 15th at 8 a.m. News Link Not Available

ADOT image John Halikowski Director, Arizona Department of Transportation Why all the “buzz” about distracted driving? With more than 10,000 drivers involved in crashes who were engaged in distracted driving behavior in our state in 2019, it is a stark reminder how important it is to be a responsible driver when you get behind the wheel. April is National Distracted Driving Awareness month. I wish we didn’t have to dedicate a month to bring attention to the dangers of distracted driving. But with the number of crashes rising and the inattentive drivers we see daily on our roads, we need to call attention to this public safety issue. At the Arizona Department of Transportation, we launched a distracted driving awareness campaign last year called “Distracted Drivers Terrify Me.” The campaign features regular people doing jobs most of us would find frightening -- a snake handler, to an electrical lineman, to a high-rise window washer. We now have added a beekeeper to the 30-second public service announcement videos. You can watch them at azdot.gov/terrify. We need to change driver behavior -- a message I have shared more than once. Being a responsible driver is the key to reducing the number of crashes and keeping our roadways safe for everyone. Don’t “bee” a distracted driver! RESOURCE LINK

Car totaled after colliding with the back of a tow truck in Ladysmith Nobody was injured, but repairs on the tow truck are expected to cost thousands of dollars A car is totaled after colliding with a parked tow truck outside of Central Island Towing at Westdowne Road in south Ladysmith. Nobody was injured in the collision, however, the car’s door was torn off and the tow truck will require thousands of dollars in repairs. The tow truck was parked on the roadside in front of Central Island towing with hazard lights flashing when the vehicle drove directly into the corner of the tow bed. The driver was the only occupant of the vehicle. “The hydraulic valves are busted up, we don’t know what is possibly bent, broken, twisted underneath there. We’ll have to send it off to get it looked at,” Central Island Towing owner Mark Kusznir said. Kusznir said that this is their second truck that’s been hit in two and a half years. The last one was hit in the middle of a job on the highway. Insurance will cover the cost of repairs for the tow truck and Central Island Towing does have backups on standby but the collision definitely put a dent in their operations. Provincial law requires that drivers slow down and move over for all vehicles stopped alongside the road that have flashing red, blue or yellow lights. This includes maintenance workers, utility workers, police, fire, ambulance, tow trucks, Commercial Vehicle Safety Enforcement personnel, land surveyors, animal control workers, garbage collectors and other roadside workers. Drivers failing to adjust their speed or failing to move over may receive a $173 traffic violation ticket that also carries three penalty points. RESOURCE LINK

All lanes of northbound Interstate 25 are open after a Monday morning crash earlier led to closures and traffic delays, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation. All lanes of northbound I-25 were closed at mile marker 170, north of Greenland Road, around 6:30 a.m. after the crash. The highway reopened before 7:45 a.m. Gazette news partner KKTV reports that a tow truck driver lost control of a vehicle, resulting in a multi-car crash in the I-25 “gap” construction zone. According to troopers, the tow truck was passing the Greenland exit (167) at 6:24 a.m. when the driver crashed into several nearby vehicles. One person was taken to a nearby hospital. A spokesperson with state patrol said it’s still unclear why the driver lost control of the vehicle. RESOURCE LINK