TowNews

No Information: A DUI driver hit a tow truck which was doing a tire change on the freeway. No Other information accept the tow truck driver is not injuried.

HAMMOND, La. (BRPROUD) – The Hammond Police Department needs your help. Do you recognize the truck in the attached picture? Hammond PD describes the vehicle this way, “an older model truck, possibly a green Mazda B2300.” Officials believe the suspect in this case is a white male. Hammond PD says a Big Wheel Wrecker was taken from 42241 S Morrison Blvd. on October 21. Officers made contact with “the complainant who said that during the prior weekend someone had entered the parking lot and removed two catalytic converters from vehicles parked at the business,” according to the Hammond Police Department. If you recognize the truck in the picture, please call Detective Ronney Domiano (985-277-5739 or Domiano_RJ@hammond.org), with the Hammond Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division, by the Hammond Police Department’s Facebook Page, or by contacting Crime Stoppers of Tangipahoa’s anonymous tip line at 1-800-554-5245. RESOURCE LINK Hammond Police Department Press Release: On October 21, 2020, the Hammond Police Department responded to a theft report at Big Wheel Wrecker located at 42241 S Morrison Blvd. Upon arrival officers met with the complainant who said that during the prior weekend someone had entered the parking lot and removed two catalytic converters from vehicles parked at the business. The complaint advised the incident was recorded on security video. Video showed the suspect to be a white male driving an older model truck, possibly a green Mazda B2300. Anyone knowing the identity of the suspect or with information about this incident is asked to contact Detective Ronney Domiano (985-277-5739 or Domiano_RJ@hammond.org), with the Hammond Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division, by the Hammond Police Department’s Facebook Page, or by contacting Crime Stoppers of Tangipahoa’s anonymous tip line at 1-800-554-5245. Be a part of the solution and you may be eligible for a cash reward.

Here is what is known: A driver with Prosser Towing, Shelbyville, TN. was responding to a stranded motorists on I-24 at the 99mm. He had pulled over to the side of the road (well off the roadway) got out of the tow truck and seen an 18 wheeler headed towards him. He ran to get out of the way, though his foot was run over and he has 4 broken toes, aches and pains. It was noted he made it in front of the rollback and was very lucky only his foot was run over.

SISSONVILLE, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Two employees of Charleston Auto were injured Thursday when a vehicle caught fire. According to Drew Foutty with the Sissonville Fire Department, the car was attached to a tow truck. It is not clear why the car caught fire, Foutty says, adding the fire was contained to the car and the tow truck. The incident happened just after 3:30 p.m. The employees were taken to the hospital, and their injuries are not life-threatening. Foutty says because there were injuries in the incident, the West Virginia Fire Marshal is investigating. RESOURCE LINK

36 motorists stopped during a traffic safety detail on Route 422 in Exeter Township A sign reading "Move Over" flashed Wednesday night at Route 422 and Shelbourne Road in Exeter Township. About a half-mile up the road, a tow truck with flashing yellow lights was parked on the eastbound shoulder in the right turn lane at Shelbourne Road near McDonald’s. It was assisting a disabled car. Fast-moving trucks and cars were driving past the tow truck. Four Exeter police cars were nearby, stopping vehicles that did not move into the left lane to provide a cushion for the tow-truck driver to clear the simulated emergency. Between 7 and 10 p.m., 36 motorists were stopped by Exeter police and notified of the new Move Over law. Exeter Sgt. Sean Fullerton said the purpose of the detail was to educate motorists of the new law and the need to provide a cushion for first responders and emergency workers to safely perform their work. “Many motorists are not aware of the law,” Fullerton said. “We see a lot of aggressive and reckless driving on Route 422. Only people who absolutely failed to move over were stopped.” Fullerton said that, nationwide, 44 first responders were fatally injured by vehicles in 2019, according to the Emergency Responder Safety Institute. Gov. Tom Wolf signed the new law on Oct. 29 in the wake of an increase of fatal accidents at emergency response scenes, including the July 26 death of a tow-truck driver on Interstate 78 in Bethel Township. Tyler A. Laudenslager, 29, of Halifax, Dauphin County, was killed while assisting a disabled vehicle on Interstate 78. The new law, which is a rebranding of the 2006 Steer Clear law, requires motorists to move over to an adjacent lane at an emergency response area, and if that is not possible, to slow down to a speed of no more than 20 mph less than the posted speed limit. Motorists are fined $500 for the first offense, $1,000 for the second offense, and $2,000 for the third offense. The charge is known as violation of duty of the driver in an emergency response area. The emergency workers will report to police the license number of the vehicle that violated the law. The police will then determine if a citation is warranted. The law also requires law enforcement to educate the public about the change. Wednesday's detail was sponsored by the Berks County DUI Task Force, including Exeter police; AAA Highway Safety Network and PennDOT. Cheryl Gouker, spokeswoman for AAA Reading-Berks, based in Wyomissing, said motorists have a responsibility to avoid putting those who are working to save lives at risk while working close to traffic. Gouker’s husband, Ed Gouker, automotive service manager at Reading-Berks AAA, was in the tow truck during the detail. Ed Gouker said the drill worked out well. “We want to increase awareness that people need to move over,” he said. “People have to pay attention,” he said. “The 36 people who were stopped will let people know about the Move Over law. Move over. It’s the law.” The location of the detail was part of a roughly 1-mile stretch of Route 422 from Gibraltar Road to Shelbourne Road, which had the highest number of vehicle crashes in 2019 in Berks County, according to PennDOT. There were 54 reported accidents on the stretch, including 30 at the Shelbourne intersection and 12 each at the intersections of Lincoln Road and Gibraltar Road. RESOURCE LINK

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. -- A family tragedy in Chesterfield has resulted in one death and one arrest. Rayshawn Elmore, 22, was arrested Wednesday for killing his younger brother, 12-year-old Jamarrieon Jones, at their Totty Street home in Ettrick. Elmore removed the magazine clip from a gun and cocked it, but mistakenly left a bullet in the chamber, Crime Insider sources told Jon Burkett about the Tuesday night shooting. He fired the weapon, and the bullet hit his 12-year-old brother Jamarrieon in the chest. Jamarrieon, affectionately known as Ya-Ya, was rushed to the hospital where he died. "Right now we are saying it was an inadvertent shooting,” Chesterfield Police Sgt. Michael Agnew said. "Our thoughts are with the family of this young child. We want the community to know we investigated this very thoroughly and it lead to the quick arrest." Elmore, according to Crime Insider sources, attempted to set himself on fire before his Wednesday morning arrest. Jamarrieon Jones' mother said her family was no stranger to tragedy. In 2016, she said Ya-Ya's brother William Elmore was shot to death after a bullying situation in Petersburg. Two years later, Ya-Ya, his sister, and his mom were abducted by his mother's fiancé after he shot and killed a tow truck driver in Petersburg. News Link Topic from 2018 Now Rayshawn Elmore, a soon-to-be father of two, is charged with the involuntary manslaughter of his younger brother. Elmore, who his mom described as devastated, is due in court Thursday morning. There have been four shootings and two deaths in Chesterfield over the past five days. RESOURCE LINK

MHP asking drivers to slow down on the interstate BILLINGS, Mont. - Montana Highway Patrol is asking all drivers to be mindful of emergency vehicles following a close call with two troopers Tuesday night. MHP shared pictures on Facebook of the aftermath from a traffic stop Tuesday night, when two patrol cars were side swiped after a driver lost control. Troopers Toni Snelling and Jared Delaney responded to a rear-end collision on I-90 East at mile marker 444 near Billings. The troopers' patrol cars were parked alongside the interstate with emergency lights on. A fire engine with its light on as well was blocking a lane to re-route traffic. As troopers investigated the crash, a man reportedly lost control of his vehicle while driving through the scene and side-swiped both patrol cars. One of the vehicles is now totaled, but fortunately no one was hurt. This accident comes only a week after two tow truckers were fatally struck on the same interstate. In that incident, the two men were recovering a vehicle in the passing lane when a driver of a pick-up truck tried to avoid colliding with a semi truck by moving into the passing lane, striking the men. MHP says speeding was a factor. MHP Sergeant Eric Gilbert says with colder weather coming in, it's now more important than ever that drivers slow down and move over when driving through a crash scene. "Any time you see emergency lights, move over and definitely pay attention, because we have emergency responders, firemen, paramedics, tow truck operators – we're all on the side of the road. We're doing our job, and the last thing we need it to have a tragedy like what's happened recently. Thank God nothing happened to our troopers, but we did lose two tow truck drivers that were just doing their job," says Sgt. Gilbert. According to the MHP Annual Report the number of total fatal crashes in the Billings area has increased since 2017, with 32 fatal crashes in 2019. Sergeant Gilbert says we can expect to see an increase in crashes on I-90 in coming months. RESOURCE LINK

Crashes — because the word “accidents” implies it was no one’s fault — in rural areas kill thousands of people every year, and the proportion of fatal rural crashes compared to fatal urban crashes far exceeds the proportion of people who live in rural areas. Written By: Jenny Schlecht | Nov 4th 2020 - 5am. I got a news alert recently from my hometown newspaper. That’s nothing new. It seems something awful has happened there at a steady clip lately. This particular awful thing barely registered right away. Two tow truck operators had been killed on Interstate 90 in Montana early in the morning when someone failed to pay heed to emergency signs and lights and tried to pass a semi at the scene of a wreck. Later that day, through a variety of acquaintances’ social media posts, I realized I knew one of the people killed. He and his five siblings were in my 4-H club, and he graduated a year ahead of me from the same high school. Later, he worked on a feedlot for a friend of my dad, and he had a reputation as a good guy and a good worker who was raising five children with his wife. His younger sister was a middle hitter on my volleyball team. His mom was a vocal fan at those volleyball games and also was my 4-H sewing leader; her instruction likely is the part of the reason my mom and I get along so well today since someone else was able to watch me sew my crooked hems and struggle with putting in zippers. I can’t imagine the devastation the families involved are feeling right now, and my heart goes out to them. Being able to put a face and a family to one of the victims brought it home all the more. But the reality is, many families will face that same devastation every day across the country. Crashes — because the word “accidents” implies it was no one’s fault — in rural areas kill thousands of people every year, and the proportion of fatal rural crashes compared to fatal urban crashes far exceeds the proportion of people who live in rural areas. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled on rural roads was 1.79 in 2017, compared to 0.85 in urban areas. Why such a disparity? Well, for starters, like this crash, many occur on interstates and highways that weave through open land and allow faster speeds. Investigators, according to news reports, have labeled speed as a likely factor in the crash that killed the two tow truck drivers. It was a snowy, icy morning, and going too fast makes stopping difficult. That speed also can be a factor in the rural crashes that aren’t on highways and interstates. Going too fast on a gravel road can lead to nothing but trouble. And then, we can’t forget the use of alcohol and drugs. That wasn’t a factor in the Montana crash, but it is a significant factor in many rural and urban crashes. NHTSA stats show that in 2017, the alcohol-impaired driving fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled in rural areas was 0.51 — more than double the urban rate of 0.25. There are many other factors, too — seat belt use, large equipment on roads, road conditions, vehicle types. But the bottom line is, it’s more dangerous to drive on rural roads than around town. So, as you’re driving around, whether on backroads or down the highway, remember to be responsible, slow down and watch for problems. You could save your own life or the life of someone else. And, in particular, if you see warning lights or signs or indications of problems, slow down and watch out for unusual obstacles. The tow truck operators, law enforcement and other emergency personnel serve a vital purpose and deserve a safe workplace. I think we all can agree that there’s been enough devastation in the region lately without adding to it. RESOURCE LINK Jenny Schlecht is Agweek's content manager. She lives on a farm and ranch in Medina, N.D., with her husband and two daughters. She can be reached at jschlecht@agweek.com or 701-595-0425.

Companies that remove vehicles from the scene of an accident in Pasco County must be sure to clear away the crash debris, too. That’s the word from the Pasco County Commission, which adopted an ordinance to that effect during the board’s Oct. 20 meeting. Commissioner Mike Wells had called for the local ordinance in the spring, to ensure that towing companies do a thorough job when clearing accident scenes. County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder said the ordinance came to commissioners several months ago, but was delayed because of the pandemic. “It basically mirrors state law, but gives us some teeth with towing companies that fail to clean up the scene of an accident,” Steinsnyder said. Wells told the county attorney: “I’m glad it has finally made it back to us.” The ordinance says that the board “recognizes that its streets and intersections are littered with debris from accidents and that this debris creates dangerous conditions for other persons using the roads.” It also requires that: “Any person removing a wrecked or damaged vehicle from a street, road, or highway shall remove and lawfully dispose of any glass, debris, or other injurious substance dropped upon the highway from such vehicle.” The ordinance aims to hold tow-truck drivers to the standards that state law requires. In calling for the ordinance earlier this year, Wells said he didn’t think every hauler is guilty of leaving debris in the road, but he wanted to increase the level of accountability. The ordinance was adopted without public comment, on a 4-0 vote, with Commissioner Kathryn Starkey absent. RESOURCE LINK Published November 04, 2020 Note: Towing Rates are Regulated in Pasco County, FL. Pasco County regulates private towing when a tow is performed without the vehicle-owner’s consent or when the towing is performed at the request of law enforcement (such as at an accident scene). The county has set a limitation on the types and amount of fees that may be charged. The original fees may be found in Resolution 07-169. As of 2020, the maximum base rate has increased $20.00 because of an increase in the CPI. For example, if a car is abandoned in a strip mall and the owner of the strip mall calls for a Class A wrecker to remove it without the permission of the owner of the car, the tow company can charge a maximum base rate of $120.00 ($100.00 + $20.00 CPI increase). The wrecker company may also charge for storage and other services outlined in Resolution 07-169, but only at the rates set out in the document. Pasco County - County resolution 07-169 limits wreckers to charge $105 for a tow, plus $3 for every mile transported. The state prohibits wreckers from towing vehicles more than 15 miles in a county the size of Pasco, unless there is no towing facility within 15 miles. Dec 9, 2016 Note: the resolution says nothing about additional equipment or services provided. RESOURCE LINK If your vehicle has been impounded, you are required to pay the tow company bill and the fees to the City of New Port Richey. The city charges include a $200.00 administration fee and $20.00 per day storage fee. Storage fees accrue from the day of impound and every day thereafter, including weekends. Payments for release of the vehicle can be made by either a money order or certified bank check. Cash, personal or business checks, debit and credit cards are NOT accepted. Payments must be made out to the "City of New Port Richey". Vehicles may be picked up Monday -- Friday between the hours of 8:00 A.M. -- 4:45 P.M. Besure to have proper documentation and identification with you. Vehicles can only be released to the registered owner. If the registered owner is not picking up the vehicle a notarized letter signed by the owner must be presented. Should you have questions you may call (727) 841-4550. If you need to pick up personal property from your vehicle, please call in advance. RESOURCE LINK

Kentucky woman charged with assaulting a police officer LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. (WYMT) -Deputies arrested a woman on Saturday afternoon. Deputies with the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office were sent to Park Hills Road in response to an accident. When officers arrived, they found 34-year-old Angel Calvina Tolan of Lebanon. Officers said Tolan could not show proof of auto insurance, and that when the tow truck came to remove the car she jumped in front of the tow truck preventing it from moving. Deputies say Tolan was also cursing and threatening people who were nearby. Officers say they then placed Tolan under arrest. They say she headbutted and kicked the windows of the police cruiser. While deputies were taken Tolan to the Laurel County Detention Center, they say she even kicked and broke the protective screen in the middle of the police cruiser. When taking her from the cruiser into the detention center she then kicked one of the deputies. Tolan was charged with second-degree disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and third-degree assault against a police officer. RESOURCE LINK

A C P D Tow Truck at the Beginning and Approximately 19 minutes into the video. It certainly takes experience to tune them out and not let these spectators rattle you.

4 Police Officers Shot At While Helping Accident Victims On Roadside: ‘This Needs To Stop’ DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) – The investigation continues into finding who shot at four officers while they were helping victims of a traffic accident at the intersection of John West Road and La Prada Drive. The shooting happened on October 31, 2020, at 6:58 p.m. Two Dallas police officers along with two Mesquite officers — all in uniform — were targeted, according to Dallas Police Association president Mike Mata. “They were waiting on a wrecker and directing traffic when all of the sudden bullets are coming their way,” said Mata. Immediately following the initial shot, 4-5 additional shots were fired. The officers took cover and called for backup. The officers were able to safely run toward the area of the gunshots in an attempt to locate a suspect or suspects. As officers were running, they heard screaming coming from 8300 La Prada Drive. Mata said a 19 year-old believed to be the gunman was found and arrested for unlawful carrying of a weapon. His gun is now being tested to see it was indeed the weapon used in the shooting. “If it comes though attrition that this is the individual that fired those rounds at officers, it absolutely was intentional and unfortunately, it’s a narrative that’s being carried across the country by a very small percentage, but vocal amount of people,” Mata said. He said across the country, there’s several recent examples of unsuspecting officers targeted for no reason. “The protests that we’ve had in the past, we’ve had individuals that were throwing bricks,” he said. “What happened in New Orleans with that officer that was shot in the face doing nothing but sitting in his squad car. This narrative that the police are the public’s enemy has to stop because it is not true.” Mata said not only is this causing significant stress for officers and their families, but it’s taking a toll on mental health. The DPA’s Assist the Officer Foundation provides confidential counseling to officers and their families. Mata said in the last three years, demand for services has increased more than 200%. RESOURCE LINK with video

Police officer and gunman wounded in shootout in Oak Forest OAK FOREST, Illinois - An Oak Forest police officer and another person were wounded after exchanging gunfire Sunday in the south suburb. About 6:20 a.m., officers were called to the 4300 block of Frontage Road for “a disturbance involving a Dodge Charger,” which was found unoccupied and determined to be stolen, Oak Forest police said. Officers called a tow truck to the scene, but as it was preparing to take the Dodge, a person walked up and tried to get in. The person allegedly shot an Oak Forest officer during “the ensuing interaction,” according to police. The officer then returned fire, striking the alleged shooter. Both the officer and the other person were treated at local hospitals, Oak Forest police said. The person’s wounds are considered life-threatening, while the officer is expected to survive, according to Illinois State Police, who are handling the investigation. Oak Forest police did not immediately respond to a request for more details. RESOURCE LINK

There will be a Tow Truck Convoy for Robert Clayton Saturday October 31st at 1pm Central time after his Funeral 11am CDT. All Tow Trucks From All companies are invited to meet at Jasper Memorial Funeral Home, LLC. The Convoy will go through the town of Jasper and Kimball. Then onto exit 143 on i24 and turn around. Those in the convoy will pull off at mm 150 on i24 to say their final goodbyes to their Tow Brother and then go back to exit 155.

Tallahassee Uber Eats driver arrested in nunchuck attack of tow company worker A Tallahassee man working as an Uber Eats driver is facing felony charges after police say he attacked a tow truck driver with a pair of nunchucks. Ronald Castillo was arrested Wednesday night after the incident inside a Gaines Street parking garage where he confronted a driver attempting to tow his Kia Spectra. Castillo, 42, faces charges of aggravated battery using a deadly weapon, burglary of a structure or conveyance, grand theft of a motor vehicle and petty theft. He was released on bond Thursday. According to court records, Castillo’s vehicle was being towed at about 9 p.m. because he was parked in a reserved spot and without a decal for the student apartment complex’s parking garage. He tried to drive the car off the truck after it had been lifted and refused to pay the $50 drop fee. He was unsuccessful and hit the tow truck driver with nunchucks in the arm and head before he eventually drove off the lift and fled. His own car was damaged. Tallahassee Police officers pulled over the car and found nunchucks in the door panel. RESOURCE LINK

Las Vegas man dies in head-on crash Thursday, October 29, 2020 at 1:39 pm A Las Vegas man died as a result of injuries sustained in a head-on collision in San Miguel County on the frontage road of Interstate 25 on Oct. 23. Jose Augustin Lucero, 80, of Las Vegas, was killed in the accident on Frontage Road 2137. State police officers said he was driving south on the frontage road in a 1995 Chevy pickup truck, when, for reasons unknown to investigators, he crossed over the center line and collided head-on with a Ford tow truck. RESOURCE LINK New Mexico State Police investigate fatal crash SAN MIGUEL COUNTY, N.M. (KAMR/KCIT) – New Mexico State Police say that they are investigating a two-vehicle fatal head-on crash that happened on the frontage road of Interstate 25 near milepost 341 south of Las Vegas, N.M., that happened on Oct. 23, at around 5:30 p.m. N.M. State Police say the initial investigation shows that a 1995 Chevy pickup, driven by 80 year-old Jose Agustin Lucero, was traveling south on Interstate 25 Frontage Road 2137 when it crossed over the center line and collided head-on with a tow truck. Lucero was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead from his injuries. The driver and passenger of the tow truck, were taken to area hospitals by family members, their condition is not known at this time. The crash is still under investigation. RESOURCE LINK

Procession through Billings planned to honor tow-truck drivers killed on the job The employer of two tow-truck drivers killed on the job last weekend near Columbus is planning a procession through Billings to honor them. Hanser's Automotive announced on its Facebook page that tow truck drivers, law enforcement, firefighters, and paramedics in Montana and Wyoming will gather at 7 p.m. Friday atop the Rims in Billings to honor Nick Visser, 37 of Billings, and Casie Allen, of Reed Point. Emergency vehicles will start staging on Highway 3 atop the Rims at 6 p.m., then light up the area at 7 p.m. and observe a moment of silence. At 7:15 p.m., a procession will move down 27th Street to Interstate 90, exit back into town at King Avenue West (exit 446), loop down Old Laurel Road to go south on South Billings Boulevard to pass the Hanser's office at 430 S. Billings Blvd. The procession will continue west to the Zoo Drive exit (443) and end at 360 Office Solutions. Visser and Allen were killed Saturday when they were struck by an oncoming vehicle while responding to an accident on the snowy interstate. RESOURCE LINK with video

This is Breaking News, with few details available a Tower Down Notification is Pending. It happened around 10:20 Central Time on Interstate 24 east in Marion County. A spokesperson for THP said the 3 vehicle crash involved a commercial vehicle and a wrecker with the third car possibly being the one on the wrecker. The roadway was shutdown while Tennessee Highway Patrol investigated the fatal crash. - - - - - - - UPDATED - - - - - - - Sorry, we are have been working to piece this story of a tragic loss together This is what we know sometime after 10pm CDT: A Semi Struck and Killed Robert Clayton on I-24 before the Kimball Exit in Marion County, TN. Robert Clayton a Tow Truck Driver with Monte Eagle Service of Monte Eagle, TN. has lost his life. (Image of Robert Clayton and Michelle Clayton) Obituary: Robert Charles Clayton age 52 of Manchester loaded his rollback for the last time, Tuesday, October 27, 2020. He was employed by Monteagle Wrecker Service and was preceded in death by his father, Robert Carl Clayton. Those left to treasure his memories are his wife, Michelle R. Clayton; mother, Norma Louise Clayton; children, Carol Michelle Green, Vernon White, April Nicole White, Johnny L. Chank, Joseph A. Chank, Lillian Nicole Clayton, Christina “R.L” Clayton & Olivia Clayton; siblings, Barbara Clayton Cooper, Robbin L. Clayton & Paul Broughton; 13 Grandchildren; one niece and one nephew. Family will receive friends 11AM, Saturday, October 31, 2020. Memorial Service 12PM, Saturday, October 31, 2020 in the funeral chapel with Pastor Luke Camlic officiating. Share memories, photos and condolences at www.jaspermemorialfuneralhome.com Arrangements by Jasper Memorial Funeral Home (423) 942-7777. https://www.jaspermemorialfuneralhome.com/obituary/Robert-Clayton UPDATED: MARION COUNTY, Tenn. — A driver for Monteagle Wrecker Service was killed while helping out another motorist stranded along Interstate 24 in Marion County on Wednesday, according to the company. Monteagle Wrecker Service says Robert Clayton of Manchester had worked for the company for the last 15 years. He was working an AAA call near mile marker 150, near Kimball, when he was struck by a semi-truck, according to the company. The Tennessee Highway Patrol said in their preliminary report that Clayton was entering a lane on the eastbound side from the emergency lane when the other driver, Richard Baye of Philip, South Dakota, crashed into the back of Clayton's truck. THP says Clayton was pronounced dead at the scene. The THP trooper who made the report says Clayton was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, but that it was unknown whether wearing the seatbelt would have made a difference in the crash. As of this report's writing, criminal charges are pending against Baye. A tow truck convoy is being planned to honor Clayton's life this Saturday, October 31st. It is set to begin after his funeral, and organizers say all tow trucks from all companies are invited. https://www.towforce.net/topic/11541-tennessee-tow-truck-convoy-103120/ RESOURCE LINK

Two police officers rescued a tow truck driver from drowning at a crash scene in Port St. Lucie. The tow truck driver tried to pull a Corvette out of a lake along NW St. James Boulevard and NW Helmsdale Way on Tuesday morning when he went under. It all began when the driver of the Corvette lost control and landed in the lake. He broke a window and swam to shore. A short time later, a tow truck driver arrived at the scene. Danny Hahn jumped into the lake in an effort to find the Corvette. Police said he got so tired he couldn't swim back to shore. Police said Officer Corona swam out to Hahn with a ResQ Disc, and Officer Druga pulled both men to shore. Hahn went to the hospital as a precaution. RESOURCE LINK

Two tow truck drivers struck and killed while recovering a vehicle on I-90 COLUMBUS — Two tow truck drivers were struck and killed by a passing vehicle while trying to recover a disabled vehicle from an Interstate 90 ditch near mile marker 413 east of Columbus Sunday at 6:20 a.m., according to Montana Highway Patrol. A 28-year-old man from Reed Point and 37-year-old man from Billings had two tow trucks set up in the eastbound passing lane on I-90 when they were hit. They both died at the scene. Their names have not yet been released. According to the MHP, an 18-year-old man from Utah was driving a 2016 Dodge Ram 3500 pulling a travel trailer and didn't see the brake lights illuminate on the semi truck in front of him, whose driver was slowing down for the tow trucks. The Greenville man moved into the passing lane to try to avoid a collision with the semi when he hit the tow truck drivers. Speed is considered a factor in the crash, according to MHP. Alcohol or drugs are not suspected to be involved. Road conditions were icy at the time of the crash. The Greenville man was wearing a seat belt and not injured. The semi truck driver, a 54-year-old man from Waden, Minnesota, was also uninjured and wearing a seat belt. The tow trucks, a 2002 Chevy C Series and 2006 GMC 999, were also involved in the crash, according to MHP. At this point, there is no word on whether any citations will be issued or charges filed. We will update you if we get more information. RESOURCE LINK Notification from the Yellowstone Tow Truck Association FB Page: This Friday, October 30th at 7pm, we will be lighting up the night for our fallen brothers, Nick Visser and Casie Allen of Hansers. Keep your eyes towards the rims. We ask that anyone wishing to see this, please view from the downtown, west end or southside areas. The rims will be reserved for our 1st Responders, all are invited from near and far! Casie Allen Memorial Fundraiser https://www.gofundme.com/.../casie-allen-memorial... Nick Visser Memorial Fundraiser https://www.gofundme.com/.../nick-visser-memorial... The Towers Poem was included in the notification The tow operator stood and faced his Maker, which must always come to air. He hoped his chains were left behind and he hadn't brought them on to bare. "Step forward now, wrecker driver how shall I deal with you? Have you always rendered aid? To your Maker, have you been true?" The tower, with dirt on his hands, said "No sir, I guess I ain't. Because those of us who drive wreckers can't always be a saint. I've had to work most Sundays and at times my talk was rough, and sometimes I've taken people cars, because life is just that tough. But I never took a penny, that wasn't mine to keep. Though I logged a lot of hours when the bills just got too deep, I never passed by a cry for help though at times I had little to gain, and sometimes, please forgive me, I could do little more than feel their pain. I know I don't deserve a place among the people here. They only wanted me around in their worst of moments there. But if you have a place for me here, well...it need not be too grand. I never expected or had too much so if you don't...I'll understand." There was silence all around the room where the saints respectfully stood. As the tow operator waited quietly, for the judgment...bad or good. "Step forward now, wrecker driver, you've borne your burdens well. Come tow on heavens streets, You've done your time in hell." Casie Allen Nick Visser (Image from 2020) (Image from 2018) (Image from 2020) The comments all say that Hansers does everything right, set so much safety and warning signs. Shows that even when our industry is aware of the dangers and take precautions we continue to lose a great number of tow operators. What Next?

Azusa city manager takes blame for tow truck tax benefit controversy Azusa City Manager Sergio Gonzalez took responsibility for what he described as a poorly written staff report that left city officials facing off with some residents who alleged the city was trying to hide a potential tax benefit for a tow truck company in a routine coronavirus emergency declaration ordinance. The ordinance is approved every 60 days and almost always uses the same language, until the most recent approval on Oct. 5, when it included a clause aimed at the city’s three contracted tow companies, allowing them to delay their quarterly tax payments into the new year. None of the tow truck companies said they needed or asked for this provision. “To me, it was buried in there,” Councilman Andrew Mendez said during Monday’s council meeting, Oct. 19. “I wanted to get some clarity as to how that happened and, more importantly, how we can avoid something like that in the future.” Gonzalez said he appreciated the opportunity to discuss it because it was “certainly not easy to explain this in a newspaper article, and there’s a lot of background information that doesn’t show up in a local paper.” Jan’s Towing, one of the city’s contractors, was about a year behind on their tax payments prior to the pandemic, Gonzalez said. Jan Qualkenbush, owner of Jan’s Towing, has said the period was significantly shorter, about seven months, and noted that he was current on his payments now and said he never asked for the extension. He will not be using the provision that was supposedly created for him. Regardless, Gonzalez explained that Jan’s Towing was behind on its payments, and told officials he was having cash flow problems. “Staff tried to helpful,” Gonzalez said. They “recommended to our finance director to provide an opportunity for towing companies to have a little bit of relief in submitting those quarterly payments.” Qualkenbush has said, while he appreciates the gesture, this is something that would have been helpful months ago — not now, not when he’s already caught up on the payments. When the council voted to approve the ordinance, it caught the attention of residents and members of the City Council, raising eyebrows when Mayor Robert Gonzales recused himself from the vote at the last minute, saying he worked for one of the companies, then refusing to disclose the name of the company when pressed by one of his colleagues. When asked by this newsgroup, Gonzales blamed it on a poorly written staff report, as did the city manager — something he repeated at Monday’s council meeting. “The agenda title report could have been a lot more explicit about what we were asking you to do,” City Manager Gonzalez said to the council. “I take responsibility for all staff reports that come to you. The buck stops here.” The report should have been titled: “‘Reauthorization of the local emergency … and approval to provide relief to our local franchise haulers,’” he said. “It didn’t have that. No excuses. It won’t happen again.” He also said he would have fleshed out the explanation for the provision in the staff report, instead of the one sentence it received on the second page. “It should have been a lot more worked up so that anybody could have seen what was considered,” he said. Gonzalez acknowledged that the emergency declaration was routinely approved and said he appreciated it when the item was pulled by Councilman Uriel Macias, saying staff “did a disservice by putting on the consent calendar” as though nothing had changed. “And, also unfortunately, the mayor could have voted on something that he potentially had a conflict of interest in,” Gonzalez said. “So that’s how it came about. That’s how it came forward to you. Again, I take full responsibility, but we were trying to help out one of the tow companies that was expressing (it was) experiencing cash flow issues. It was not the other two. It was Jan’s Towing who expressed to our staff that they were having cash flow problems.” Qualkenbush didn’t refute this, but said he never asked for an extension, and is now current on his payments. Azusa Police Chief Mike Bertelsen told the council all three companies were current with their payments, which means none will be using the provision that led to this controversy. RESOURCE LINK

It has been reported that an anonymous donor dedicated this billboard to the memory of Tristen Cother and the Slow Down/Move Over initiative.

PANAMA CITY — Bay County commissioners have approved a hike in towing rates after being left untouched for 12 years. Discount Towing's manager, Mark Harris, said he brought the rates issue to the attention of county officials. The towing rates for vehicles on rights of way have been the same since 2008 and the county decided to mirror what Escambia County has created. The rate for Class A vehicles will be $100, Class B will be $200, and Class C will be $300. Previously Class A was $87.50 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and $97.50 after hours, and Class B was $115 during the day and $125 at night, and Class C was $220 and $4 per mile past 10 miles. Class A consists of regular passenger vehicles; Class B, garbage trucks, buses, etc.; and Class C, tractor-trailers. Once the towing rates were brought to the county's attention during the summer, officials started to look into the issue. "Their cost of business has definitely gone up since 2008, so we had staff study communities and counties all over the Panhandle and coastal communities throughout Florida," County Commission Chairman Phillip Griffitts said. "Today, we did approve a rate structure change and put in a resolution form where now every year we will take a look at those rates and make sure they're comparable and in line with the towing industry." Griffitts said it's something county officials should have addressed years ago and recognized that they were late in doing so. The towing rates are mostly for accidents in which the Florida Highway Patrol or the Bay County Sheriff's Office has to call in a tow truck to haul off a vehicle. It's also applied to people who park illegally, but not for people who are parked on private property and need to get their vehicle towed. For Discount Towing, its office manager said the rate increase will help business going forward. "The cost of insurance and expenses to keep the trucks on the road, paperwork and stuff that has to be done," said Lymie Weeks of Discount Towing. "We're happy to see that it's on the books and talked about." Harris said he was surprised that he was the only one from a towing truck company at the meeting, but is excited that the vote worked out in their favor. RESOURCE LINK

RICHMOND (NEWS 1130) — With Halloween creeping up, one Richmond man is putting the final touches on his haunted tow truck in an effort to celebrate the holiday in a COVID-safe way. When Jonny Soroka’s seven-year-old daughter was ‘devastated’ she wouldn’t be able to celebrate Halloween like she usually does because of her asthma, it got him brainstorming about a solution. And after two months of planning, Soroka is set to hit the road on Oct. 31 bringing a mobile Halloween show to people in the Richmond area. While Soroka has the intention to set up and host a show at several Richmond parks, the City of Richmond has stopped the Halloween fun. “I feel like we’re getting road blocked for no real reason. If people can go to a grocery store, people can stand outside to watch the show,” he explains. According to Soroka, the city is asking him to limit his shows, have a sanitization plan and keep crowds under 50. While he agreed to adhere to the changes, he says the city is still not letting him go through with the plan. “The use of city property is not the primary issue. Mr. Soroka needs to comply with the provincial health orders related to mass gatherings and events. If he is able to prepare and submit a plan that ensures he meets all those requirements, we will work with him to try and identify a suitable location or locations that meet his needs,” an email from the City of Richmond reads. RESOURCE LINK with video https://jonnystowingbc.ca/

Man pleads not guilty to manslaughter in alleged intoxicated driving crash which killed Tow Truck Driver A man accused of driving while impaired when he struck and killed a tow truck driver pleaded not guilty Tuesday to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. Grant August Miller, 48, also pleaded not guilty to driving without a license and was ordered held on $100,000 bail. He’s next due in court Nov. 23.