TowNews

MURRAY, Utah (KUTV) — A 29-year-old man died after losing control of his car in snowy and icy conditions on I-15 near Murray. Officials said the driver of a black Subaru Legacy entered I-15 northbound from 5300 South on-ramp at approximately 5:13 p.m. Wednesday. According to UHP, the driver of the car began to go off the road due to the snowy conditions. The car drifted into another lane while it was fishtailing in front of a tow truck towing a vehicle. The Subaru's driver-side doors were struck by the front of the tow truck. Officials said the driver of the Subaru was transported to a nearby hospital and was pronounced dead before arriving. The truck's driver was uninjured. There were no other vehicles or passengers involved in the crash, troopers said. The northbound lanes of I-15 were closed while crews investigated the scene. RESOURCE LINK

BOX ELDER, Utah (KUTV) — A 19-year-old man was found dead almost half a mile from the scene of a crash and hours after the car was towed. According to Utah Highway Patrol, troopers responded to a single-vehicle crash on southbound SR-13 near milepost 16 at approximately 1:30 a.m. Wednesday. Upon arrival, officials reported the vehicle had slid into a nearby ditch. "Due to the severe weather in this area, driving conditions were slick with low visibility," troopers said. Troopers said in a release that no occupants were found at the scene after approaching the 2018 Honda Civic with minimal damage. The registered owner of the vehicle was notified, and a tow was requested. During investigation, a family member confirmed that Samuel Slade of Layton would've been the driver of the vehicle. "Although they were unable to contact him, after conversations with the family, it was determined that the driver could have been at an acquaintance’s residence," officials said in a statement. Family members contacted officials later on Wednesday after Samuel reportedly did not return home. Troopers responded out and helped in searching for the possible location of the driver. The body of Samuel was discovered by family members within one-half mile of the crash site a short time after arriving. Both Utah Highway Patrol and Box Elder County Sheriff's Office were assisting in the investigation. https://kutv.com/news/local/19-year-old-boy-from-layton-found-dead-half-mile-from-scene-of-crash-samuel-slade-honda-civiv-sr-13#

DOUGLAS COUNTY — Two people were sent to the hospital on Monday, Feb. 20, after three vehicles collided on Interstate-94 due to icy road conditions. A 2006 Toyota Scion XA — driven by an unknown female driver out of Hudson, Wisconsin — collided with a 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee on Interstate-94 between milepost 105 and 106 in the Hudson Township at 5:32 p.m. Carrie Kelly, 57, of Oakdale — the driver of the Jeep — was being pulled out of the freeway's ditch by tow truck driver Randy Gau, 52, of Alexandria, when the eastbound traveling Scion collided with the Jeep and the 2014 Ram Tow Truck. The driver of the Scion and Kelly were transported to Alomere Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Gau was uninjured. All drivers were wearing their seat belts. Road conditions were snowy/icy, according to the accident report. Responding agencies included the Minnesota State Patrol, Alexandria Fire Department and North Memorial Ambulance. RESOURCE LINK

Tow truck driver Daniel Meade dies in roadside incident near Yass Canberra towie Daniel Meade dies in roadside incident near Yass. he is remembered as a devoted dad and husband after a tragic workplace accident near Yass on February 17. No other information at this time.

WACO, Texas — A 3-vehicle accident is being reported at the intersection of 17th and Jack Kultgen in Waco, fire officials said. The Waco Fire Department is reporting that a car hit a car being towed behind a tow truck. Waco fire said no injuries were reported. An investigation into this incident remains active and ongoing. RESOURCE LINK

While the family waited for a tow truck, the man ran across the street to go to a convenience store. When he ran back across, he was hit by another driver. HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — A man helping his mother after her car broke down along the North Freeway was hit and killed Tuesday night, according to the Harris County Sheriff's Office. The crash happened around 9 p.m. as the man and his wife were heading home from their little nephew's birthday party. They stopped along I-45 and Remington Valley Drive to help after his mother-in-law's car broke down. While the family waited for a tow truck, the man ran across the street to go to a convenience store. When he ran back across, he was hit by another driver. He was pronounced dead at the scene. "All my husband was trying to do was go to the store," the man's wife said. "We were helping somebody on the side of the road over there on the freeway. The lady was flying so fast, she didn't see my husband and hit him. And now my children now have no dad no more." The woman says her husband leaves behind their six children. The family said he was a loving husband who took care of his family and went on to say they're already heartbroken after losing their son last year. Meanwhile, the driver who hit the man stayed at the scene and cooperated with deputies. They also said she didn't show any signs of intoxication. RESOURCE LINK

Woodstock man killed in crash on I-575 in Holly Springs Authorities are investigating the cause of a crash in which a man died on Interstate 575 in Holly Springs. According to Holly Springs police, a white passenger car struck a tow truck stopped in the emergency lane on I-575 northbound just north of the Holly Street bridge. The driver of the white passenger car, Craig Brown, 37, from Woodstock, was pronounced deceased on the scene, police said. The driver of the tow truck was taken to Northside Cherokee Hospital for minor injuries. The Cherokee Sheriff's Office has been asked to help with the investigation, which remains ongoing. RESOURCE LINK ------------------------------- A Statement from Mauldin Body Shop & Towing reads: We are very thankful for all the prayers & calls for our driver. He is ok but very sore. Thankfully he had just sat down in the truck and was not at the rear when it was struck. I am sorry for the family of the driver that did not make it. The move over law has to be looked at more closely because this is happening way too often with the industry. ------------------------------- The accident happened at I-575 north near Holly Street Bridge, just before Holly Springs Parkway, according to GDOT 511. HOLLY SPRINGS, Ga. — One person is dead after a car went under a tow truck Monday afternoon in Cherokee County, the Holly Springs Police Department said. The accident happened along I-575 northbound near Holly Street Bridge, just before Holly Springs Parkway, according to GDOT 511. Holly Springs Police identified the person who died as 37-year-old Craig Brown of Woodstock, Ga. Brown died at the scene. Authorities said the car went under a tow truck, which was picking up another car on the side of the road. The two truck was stopped in the emergency lane. Holly Springs Police said no one else was injured. Police said the interstate was shut down for nearly two hours but was able to reopen shortly after 4 p.m. The crash is still under investigation. RESOURCE LINK

Settlement reached in tow truck insurance fraud case RESOURCE LINK

State Police retaliates against western Michigan towing company, lawsuit claims (MI) The owner of Eagle Towing in Montague is suing Michigan State Police, claiming the firm has been unjustly removed from a list of companies called to remove disabled and abandoned vehicles and those involved in accidents. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The head of a third-generation towing company is suing Michigan State Police, claiming he is being blacklisted for helping expose criminal wrong-doing by a former police chief in Oceana County. John Heykoop, who owns Eagle Towing, says the state police scrubbed him from a list of companies it uses to remove disabled and abandoned vehicles and those involved in accidents. Montague-based Eagle Towing, which operates in Muskegon and Oceana counties, suffered “irreparable harm and continues to suffer damages on a daily basis,’’ according to the lawsuit filed earlier this month in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids. Heykoop says it is to get back at him for exposing questionable conduct involving former Shelby Police Chief Robert Wilson, who was prosecuted for keeping salvage vehicle inspection fees that should have gone to village coffers. Lt. Jeffrey White, who runs the state police post in Hart, sent Heykoop a letter saying Eagle Towing was being removed from the no preference list due to “the quality and type of service’’ provided by Eagle Towing, according to the lawsuit. The state police post in Rockford did likewise, notifying Heykoop that Eagle Towing was no longer on the wrecker rotation list, the lawsuit claims. Despite meeting state requirements for being placed on the no preference list, Eagle Towing remains excluded, the lawsuit contends. “Other towing companies and businesses within the Rockford and Hart posts have not been subjected to this discriminatory and unequal treatment,’’ the lawsuit claims. “The unequal treatment was the result of intentional and purposeful discrimination.’’ Damages to Eagle Towing include loss of business and an injured reputation in the community, the lawsuit claims. Michigan State Police employees named in the lawsuit are being represented by the Michigan Attorney General’s Office, which declined comment. “Because of pending litigation, we cannot comment,’’ spokeswoman Andrea Bitely said in an email. The lawsuit seeks more than $100,000 in damages. Heykoop also wants to be put back on the no-preference towing list and be treated similarly to other towing companies. Eagle Towing, meanwhile, is under contract with Electric Forest, LLC to provide towing services at its annual music festival, which gets underway this weekend in Rothbury. RESOURCE LINK With Video

Muskegon Co. tow truck driver accused of price gouging will not face charges Andrew Heykoop, operations manager for Eagle Towing in Muskegon County, was charged with three felony counts of insurance fraud. All three charges were dropped. MUSKEGON COUNTY, Mich. — Charges filed against a Muskegon County tow truck driver accused of defrauding insurance companies have been dropped. Andrew Heykoop, operations manager for Eagle Towing in Muskegon County, was charged with three felony counts of insurance fraud. Investigators said Heykoop billed insurance companies with invoices that had false information. The charges against him were dropped without prejudice, meaning the prosecutor can choose to reissue the charges in the future, alter the claim or take the charges to a different court. There is no fine or cost when charges are dropped without prejudice. The most recent instance of alleged insurance fraud through Eagle Towing dates back to March 2022, when two cars crashed in Holton Township. Court documents obtained by 13 ON YOUR SIDE showed Eagle Towing sent Pioneer State Mutual Insurance Company an invoice that included $455 for storage, a $276.50 fuel charge, $1,475 for the accident and $2,475 for Maxel Services Property/Environmental Remediation for a total of $4,681.50. The Sheriff's Office found that the Muskegon County Road Commission had been responsible for clearing the debris and that no cleanup was performed by Eagle Towing, but the company still billed the insurance company for those services. While Heykoop was unavailable for comment, his lawyer, Michael Corcoran, spoke with 13 ON YOUR SIDE in September. He said Heykoop denies the allegations. Corcoran said he is confident his client would be exonerated. RESOURCE LINK

Judge says jurors can hear blood results, evidence in double fatal 2019 Lafayette crash A Sussex County jury will hear key evidence that prosecutors say proves a Hampton Township tow truck driver was under the influence of psychoactive drugs prior to a horrific 2019 crash in Lafayette that killed two county residents, a state Superior Court judge has ruled. Judge Michael Gaus, in a Jan. 25 order, gave prosecutors the green light to show future jurors blood and urine results showing Joseph Crilley, 32, was high on fentanyl, morphine and other psychoactive drugs when his wrecker crossed over the double-yellow lines on Aug. 5, 2019 in Lafayette and crushed a Honda Civic hatchback. Wax folds that allegedly contained heroin found on the driver seat and driver-side floor of the tow truck and a glass smoking device can also be shown, Gaus stated in his order. Crilley, who has cycled through multiple defense attorneys since his arrest 39 days after the crash, sought to keep the evidence from jurors in a motion to suppress evidence, which included in-person testimony last summer by New Jersey State Police troopers James Celi and Daniel Rodriguez. Celi was first to look inside the tow truck's cab to obtain vehicle registration and driver's license information and discovered a bottle of sertraline, an antidepressant, but did not observe wax folds. Rodriguez testified he and a fellow trooper were second to look in the cab, where they discovered three wax folds. Jeff Patti, Crilley's defense attorney, argued in court that the wax folds were unlawfully seized by Rodriguez without a warrant, but the judge in his order disagreed, instead stating that Rodriguez's search was lawful since, as a fatal crash investigator, he had rightful access to the interior of the truck to conduct an administrative inspection. Police may still seize evidence without a warrant if the evidence is in plain view and if the officer had probable cause to associate the evidence with a crime, the judge ruled, attributing his findings to a 2016 New Jersey Supreme Court decision. Gaus disagreed with Patti's second argument that had Rodriguez not conducted the purported "unlawful" search the second time, there would have been no grounds for a search warrant to obtain Crilley's blood and urine. Crilley also did not show signs of impairment, Rodriguez testified, so there was no probable cause for the warrant, Patti argued. Celi, who called the judge to obtain a warrant to analyze Crilley's blood and alcohol, was already in the process of applying for the warrant prior to the purported heroin being discovered and other evidence, such as the finding of the antidepressant medication and the severity of the crash, was enough for probable cause. Patti told the New Jersey Herald this week that he is in the process of filing a motion to appeal Gaus' decision, which must be made within 20 days from the date the order was released. Patti is also seeking to "stay" the case, meaning all hearings will temporary pause, as the motion weaves its way through the state Appellate Division. The appeals court can either reverse Gaus' decision, allow additional arguments to be heard before Gaus or deny the motion. Gaus noted during a Jan. 25 hearing in court that he anticipates moving the case along despite Patti's actions, stating that it needs a "high priority trial date." The trial is expected to take place in early spring. Crilley was indicted by a Sussex County grand jury on Dec. 12, 2019 and is facing two counts of second-degree vehicular homicide, one count of assault by auto, a fourth-degree crime, and three counts of third-degree drug possession. Police responded around 10:30 p.m. to the two-vehicle crash on Route 94 in Lafayette, according to court records. A crash reconstruction report, investigation and statements from witnesses established that Crilley, driving an Isuzu tow truck that was towing two vehicles was "speeding, crossed the double yellow lines and crushed the (Honda) with horrifying force," Gaus wrote in his decision, referring to testimony given by the officers. Officers testified that the impact propelled the Honda backward more than 70 yards, or 210 feet, and when the vehicles came to rest, the Honda was partially trapped under the tow truck. The Honda driver, James Ziniewicz, 43, of Newton died at the scene and rear passenger, Bassirou Diate, 33, of Hamburg died of his injuries 26 days later. A third passenger suffered severe injuries, including a loss of her eye. Crilley has argued that the truck's braking system failed and he was unable to stop in time, but prosecutors said an inspection found the brakes to be in working order. RESOURCE LINK

CATALINA, Ariz. (KGUN) — The everyday grind of being a tow truck driver is more dangerous than you might expect. https://youtu.be/MVjqTzDqlrU As the owner of Catalina Towing, you’d think Nate Liodas would be most worried about the profits of his business. Instead, he worries about making sure he and his employees make it home every night. "We want to go home and see our families at night just like anybody," Liodas said. Liodas is the owner of Catalina Towing. He’s been in the towing business since college and opened his own business seven years ago. On any given day, safety for his employees is at the forefront of his mind. "There’s not a day that goes by that doesn’t cross my mind," he said. "Especially when I have five or six guys out there at a time." A 2019 report from the International Chiefs of Police Association shows 14 tow truck operators were killed in the U.S. during a traffic stop. That stat mirrors the police, who saw 18 officers fatally hit that same year. Liodas said, "It’s part of the job. It’s something we have to deal with." He says, fortunately, tragedy hasn’t struck in his years running the business. However, "we’ve had some close calls. I personally have had a lot of close calls," he said. He believes distracted driving plays a big part in these tragedies. He said he can only make sure his drivers are taking the necessary precautions. "Make sure we’re vigilant out there," he explained. "We’re turning behind our shoulder, looking over our shoulder making sure [we're aware of] what these cars are doing." Despite the inherent dangers, he said it’s all in a day's work, and he wouldn’t trade it for anything else. "Helping people, I love it," Liodas said. "Every day people are out here, they’re having a bad bad day, their car just broke down and they need assistance, and we’re the first person they see." RESOURCE LINK

Helping stranded drivers on the side of the road should not be one of America’s most deadly jobs, but it is. On average, two emergency responders, including tow workers, are struck and killed every month in the U.S. by drivers who fail to obey the law by moving over to an adjacent lane and allowing the roadside rescuers the space to operate safely, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roadside crashes are notably deadly for tow workers. Government data shows that tow operators are killed at a rate of almost 43 deaths per 100,000 workers, compared to just three for all other industries. In Oregon, 10 people were killed in crashes while outside a disabled vehicle from 2016 through 2020. Nationwide, 1,703 were killed in that same timeframe, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). While all 50 States have Slow Down Move Over laws, driver awareness and compliance are inconsistent. With highway speeds often 65 mph or more, drivers may find it difficult to spot and react to incident response personnel, including tow truck drivers, police, and emergency responders. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety did two different studies to see what could be done to better protect roadside workers. The AAA Foundation also surveyed tow workers, emergency responders, and road maintenance workers on their experiences with roadside jobs. Of those surveyed, 60% had experienced a near miss while working at the roadside, while an astonishing 15% had survived being hit by a passing vehicle. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety looked at devices and warning messages, including cones, flares, emergency flashing light patterns, and electronic variable message signs (VMS) to see which were most effective. The studies show that the odds of a driver moving a vehicle over a lane were 95% higher when VMS were used. Cones, flares, and emergency flashing light patterns led to significant lane shifts by drivers but were less effective at reducing speeds. One study (here is the fact sheet) assessed the behavior of motorists passing a roadside incident with varying combinations of flares, cones, and two different light patterns: a Daytime light pattern representative of the emergency lighting currently in widespread use and a Nighttime light pattern designed to avoid masking road safety personnel working at the roadside at night. The staged incident consisted of a flatbed tow truck with the Daytime or Nighttime light pattern activated, 6 feet in front of a silver sedan with hazard flashers operating, on the shoulder of a multilane, limited access highway. Video data was processed using computer vision techniques to estimate lane occupancies and speed. During the day, lights on a tow truck resulted in a 25% increase in vehicles shifting lanes compared to when the truck and client vehicles were not present. At night, light patterns resulted in a 41% increase in lane shifts. Neither flares nor cones produced a significant change in lane occupancy during the day. When flares were added to the truck displaying lights at night, the occupancy of Lane 1 decreased significantly beyond the level achieved by the truck and lights alone. The addition of cones, however, produced only a very small additional reduction that did not reach statistical significance. RESOURCE LINK

BANGOR (WGME) -- The owner of a Maine towing company is accused of illegally towing vehicles in the Bangor area and forcing victims to pay large “impound” fees in order to get their vehicles back. In December 2022, the Bangor Police Department says they received several reports of suspicious activity allegedly being perpetrated by an Alton towing company called All Towed Up. People reported that their vehicles had been towed due to various parking violations without a request by police or property owners to do so. The victims were reportedly forced to pay a large “impound” fee to get their vehicles back. Following an investigation, an arrest warrant was issued for the owner of All Towed Up, 19-year-old Bruce LiCausi Jr. of Bangor. LiCausi was arrested in Alton on Thursday and charged with theft. RESOURCE LINK

Stolen Kias, Hyundais flooding Cleveland impound lot The cars inside of the lot on Quigley Road reflect a crime trend impacting Northeast Ohio and the nation. The thefts of Kias and Hyundais are surging. Jerry Grayson, an assistant supervisor at the impound lot, stood at the gate on Wednesday and watched on as vehicles were towed through. “Just wait around for like 15 minutes; another one of them is sure to be towed, and it will probably have the back window and the steering column busted,” he said. From Nov. 15, 2021, through Jan. 23, 2022, 2,493 vehicles were towed to the city’s impound lot. In that time, Cleveland police records show, there were 241 Hyundais and 233 Kias brought in. A year later, in that same time frame, 2,910 vehicles were towed, and the number of Kias and Hyundais passing through the gate has more than doubled: 504 Hyundais and 798 Kias. “Back in October, we were only having maybe 25 or 30 Kias or Hyundais,” Grayson said. “There has been a significant increase. Now, maybe we have 150 of each car.” Carmen Bermudez hopes one of the vehicles is hers. On Jan. 2, Bermudez and her 20-year-old son purchased a 2018 Kia Soul. Less than two weeks later, on Jan. 13, he parked the car on the street outside of their home near West 80th and Lawn Avenue at about 6 p.m. Bermudez said her son woke up at 10 p.m. for work and looked out the window. “The car was just gone,” she said. “Without a car, he wasn’t able to go to work and he didn’t have any money to do Uber and stuff. So, he ended up being fired from his job.” According to Cuyahoga County prosecutors, 415 Kias and Hyundais were stolen in Cleveland in January. In December, 459 were taken out of Cleveland. The suburbs have also fallen victim to this trend. Bermudez, a veteran on disability, said the theft is especially stressful because she needs a way to get to doctor appointments. “It’s just terrible,” she said. “People need to understand that people work hard to get what they have. A lot of people struggle just to get a vehicle. It’s not right. I know it’s fun for them, but apparently, they’re not thinking about the people they’re affecting.” Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley said the responsibility to solve the problem does not fall on law enforcement, but rather the car manufacturers. Vehicles without push-button ignitions and immobilizing anti-theft devices have faced ignition issues that many reports say allow thieves to steal the cars more easily. “I don’t know how much money these manufacturers saved by not putting the correct technology in the car, but it is costing consumers a lot of money,” O’Malley said. “They need to fix the problem.” Hyundai Motor America has made engine immobilizers standard on all vehicles produced as of November 2021, a spokesman said. The manufacturer is also launching a software update scheduled to be available beginning in March and provided at no cost to customers. Further details about the update were not available. Grayson said the crime trend is overwhelming, and he is concerned about the demands on law enforcement. “The cars in the lot do not cost the city any extra, but this all takes away the manpower for having officers patrolling the streets,” he said. “Then they have to be sitting and waiting on a tow truck to come and get the cars.” Cleveland police officers advised vehicle owners to take precautions. “Thefts from motor vehicles are crimes of opportunity, and vehicles with valuables such as purses, computer bags, or even change left in the center console are often targeted,” Sgt. Jennifer Ciaccia said in a statement. “Owners of Kia or Hyundai vehicles are advised to contact the car manufacturer to purchase steering wheel locks to lessen the likelihood of theft.” Grayson, who drives a Hyundai with a push-start, said he recommends purchasing a secondary alarm to cover the entire vehicle. “At least if they break the window, they can’t take the car. I’d rather replace the window than to look for my car in the morning,” he said. “I am concerned. Will I be next? When are they going to figure out how to steal the push-starts next?” RESOURCE LINK

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Police say a man arrested in Lexington is charged in connection with several cold cases involving kidnapping and sexual assault. According to a report by LEX 18, 52-year-old George Wayne Aldridge was arrested on Friday. He's facing multiple charges, including three counts of kidnapping, two counts of first-degree rape, two counts of first-degree sexual abuse, two counts of first-degree sodomy and one count of first-degree wanton endangerment. Lexington police say the charges involve three separate cases that span 2009 to 2016. Each case has centered around a female victim who was kidnapped before being sexually assaulted. Investigators say they were able to use DNA technology to connect the victims and identify Aldridge as the suspect. According to LEX 18, Aldridge owns a towing business called Wayne's Towing. He is currently being held in the Fayette County Detention Center. RESOURCE LINK

A two-year-old girl was hospitalized after the driver of a tow truck struck her in Lower Manhattan on Thursday, police said. The toddler was standing on a stroller being pushed through the intersection of South St. and Peck Slip in the Financial District when she may have fallen off around 2:40 p.m., according to cops. As the truck driver made a right turn onto South St. off Peck Slip, the front passenger tire collided with the girl. The tot, who was being watched by a nanny at the time of the crash, was taken to Bellevue Hospital and treated for minor injuries, cops and sources said. The driver of the tow truck stayed on the scene and was not immediately facing any charges. Police were still investigating the crash Thursday night. RESOURCE LINK

Charges Anticipated After Car Hits Flatbed Truck, Launched Into Air Charges are anticipated after a crash involving a car and a tow truck near Tilton early this morning. The RCMP were first called to the scene on an area known as the Tilton Barrens shortly after 7:00 a.m. They say a tow truck was parked on the side of the road with its lights flashing and flatbed lowered. They say the truck was preparing to tow a separate vehicle away when another car failed to move over and hit the flatbed of the truck. They say the car was launched into the air and came to a rest on its roof. There were no injuries, and police expect that charges will be laid. According to the highway traffic act, motorists are required to move over for emergency vehicles, including tow trucks, when they are pulled over with lights flashing. RESOURCE LINK

Police investigate after car strikes tow truck and flips over near Tilton The driver of a car is under investigation for failing to move over for a tow truck that was parked on the side of the road on Route 73 near Tilton early Tuesday morning. Bay Roberts RCMP were called shortly before 7 a.m. Evidence gathered at the scene indicates the tow truck was pulled over to the side of the road with its lights activated and flatbed lowered, preparing to load a separate vehicle onto the flatbed. The car, which came up behind the tow truck, failed to move over and collided with the flatbed of the truck. The car was launched into the air and came to rest on its roof. Nobody, including the tow truck operator, was injured. The driver remains under investigation and charges are anticipated. As is legislated by the Highway Traffic Act, motorists are required to move over when passing emergency vehicles, including tow trucks, when they are parked on the side of the highway with their lights flashing. RESOURCE LINK

COLORADO STATE PATROL SAYS “STRUCK BY” INCIDENTS ARE OUT OF CONTROL The message from the Colorado state Patrol is that you (and only you) can prevent serious secondary crashes caused by ignoring state law. Not “moving over and slowing down” when approaching the site of an existing roadway accident or breakdown has been enforced for more than 17 years and is the law in all 50 states. Yet people still don’t pay attention and moreover, most involved driver’s report to law enforcement “I’m a good driver and don’t know how this happened.” Just 10 days ago Ark Valley Voice reported on a pair of rear-end crashes involving first responders working “post-crash care” at two sites on major highways in Metro Denver. The Colorado State Patrol (CSP) has issued a polite but firm reminder, that the 2005 “Move Over and Slow Down Law” is there to protect you the public as well as the first responders, tow truck operators, Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) crews, and finally, the CSP troopers. These are people who risk their lives for you while trying to ensure your safety and get you the help that you need and everyone on their way again. CSP and CDOT press conference asks for the public’s help On Friday afternoon, Jan. 27, the Colorado State Patrol and CDOT held a joint press conference to spread the word beyond what they post on social media and ask for the public’s help. It’s an “alarming trend this year; already a substantial increase in ‘struck by incidents'”, said Major Darce Weil of CSP District 1, referring to drivers ramming into first responders working the scene of an existing accident. In both of the recent incidents, drivers ignored visual warnings up to half a mile ahead of the existing crash site. They attempted to pass other vehicles, entered a toll lane or an inside breakdown lane and found themselves in the restricted crash site area. Warnings included brightly lit directional arrows atop patrol cars, CDOT LED billboards, safety cones and even a CDOT Safety Patrol truck. In one incident, the Safety Patrol truck itself was struck, injuring the operator and requiring transport to the hospital. CSP Trooper describes how he narrowly avoided being a crash victim himself. An incident was recounted firsthand at the press conference by the CSP Trooper whose vehicle was rammed from behind. Fortunately, Trooper Cameron Gill was outside his vehicle making a report and he avoided injury — this time. Only nine months out of the CSP Academy, Gill described it as a “jaw-dropping” reminder of his training “to keep his head always on a swivel, looking 360 degrees at all times.” “Danger is not just inside a vehicle when making a contact, but can be outside, such as cars [approaching].” Due to this one driver ignoring the advance warnings, the resulting second crash ended up blocking not only Lane 1 but Lane 2, selfishly delaying hundreds of fellow motorists behind it, even longer. CDOT Deputy Director of Operations Bob Fifer added a perspective from his crews, saying that in addition to the usual hiring challenges they face, that existing employees and job seekers have a real fear of what injuries they may encounter working on the highways in all types of weather, day and night. He added that a major cause for these incidents is distracted driving, coupled with excessive speed. Drivers need to realize that in a faction of a second, attention diverted by talking on a cell phone, turning to speak to a child or passenger, or fiddling with the vehicle’s navigation/entertainment is all that it takes to get into trouble that drivers can’t pull out of. To heed the law, one first has to focus on driving and being in control of the auto, which can become a deadly, (un)guided missile. If you’re paying attention and obeying the law, then “moving over and slowing down”, in time to avoid disaster is possible. Major Weil said that even though the latest two incidents resulted in only minor injuries and a destroyed patrol car, that it was just “pure luck”. When asked how severe injury or loss of a first responder feels, he replied “it impacts us for a lifetime…many of us have known or worked with them. We will live with it for the rest of our lives, as will the families of all the other accident victims.” These crashes are fully avoidable; saving lives, and avoiding totaling your vehicle (or others). It’s also smart to not get hit with a steep ticket or penalty points. Drivers should be aware that CSP troopers have a very low tolerance for these incidents. They are not likely to let you off with a warning, especially in winter weather. It’s not just Metro Denver highways where we’re all at risk – out here in Central Colorado, it’s our dark, rural two lanes, US 50 and US 285 that are especially dangerous. It’s as bad out here (or worse) in Central Colorado – what to do? If you see flashing lights (of any color), flares, orange triangles, or cones; pay attention — you’re cautioned to slow down immediately and move over a lane, if safe to do so. If there’s no safe way to move over a whole lane then slow to a crawl until you pass with as much room to spare as you can. The lives you save may be those of your own family or of someone who’s only trying to keep us all safe. The video of the press conference is here. It is just 18 minutes and spoken from the heart, asking for your help. It’s worth a replay, especially for newer drivers or those who seem to be “always in a hurry”. Featured image: Colorado State Patrol Joint press conference with Colorado Department of Transportation. Left to right, Bob Fifer, CDOT Deputy Dir. of Operations, CSP Trooper Cameron Gill, CSP Major Darce Weil. Image courtesy YouTube. RESOURCE LINK

One person was killed and two others injured in a three-vehicle crash in the Hudson Valley. The crash took place in Rockland County around 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 28 on Airmont Road and Route 59 in Ramapo. An investigation into the crash found that a 2012 Nissan Rogue, driven by a 41-year-old female resident of Mahwah, New Jersey, was traveling eastbound on Route 59, said Lt. Blaine Howell, of the Ramapo Police. The Nissan entered the intersection at Airmont Road, crossed over into the westbound lane of Route 59 traffic, and struck a 2021 Hyundai Sonata, driven by an 85-year-old male resident of Montebello, according to Howell. Both the Nissan Rogue and the Hyundai Sonata then struck a tow truck that was being operated by a 58-year-old resident of Airmont, which was also in the westbound lane of traffic, Howell said. The vehicle operators were transported to area hospitals with varying degrees of injuries. The 85-year-old driver of the Sonata died from his injuries at Good Samaritan Hospital, Howell said. His identity has not yet been released. This crash is currently under investigation by the Ramapo Police Crash Investigation Unit. RESOURCE LINK

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is investigating a fatal crash involving a pedestrian early Sunday morning. Officers responded to the crash along W.T. Harris Boulevard around 1:56 a.m., finding a 2012 Ford F-450 tow truck and the victim. MEDIC pronounced 47-year-old Freddy Kasongo deceased on the scene. The driver of the tow truck was not hurt and stayed on the scene, according to CMPD. Police say Kasongo was crossing the lanes on West W. T. Harris Boulevard when he was hit. He was not in a crosswalk or near an intersection, according to police. Police said it was dark at the crash location and Kasongo was wearing dark clothing. The tow truck driver was not impaired, police said. It is unknown if Kasongo was impaired. RESOURCE LINK

FLORIDA'S 'MOVE OVER' LAW IS DESIGNED TO SAVE LIVES BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Florida’s ‘Move Over’ law is designed to save lives, but sadly too many drivers ignore the law and put others at risk. There are no excuses that warrant putting other’s lives at risk, especially when risking someone’s life could easily be avoided by moving over or slowing down as Florida’s ‘Move Over’ law directs. For the sake of our first responders, tow truck drivers, road rangers, sanitation trucks, and utility workers, please “Move Over” and help save lives. Florida law requires you to move over a lane when you can do so for stopped law enforcement, emergency vehicles, sanitation trucks, utility service vehicles, and tow trucks or wreckers. If you can’t move over or when on a two-lane road, slow to a speed that is 20 miles per hour less than he posted limit speed. RESOURCE LINK

The Impact Check: Is Florida’s Move Over law having the impact it was intended to? More than two decades after it went into effect, crashes, injuries and deaths continue It’s a walk Brooke Lawrence never thought she would be taking, at least not now and certainly, not for the son she now has to visit at a Florida cemetery. “I don’t like coming here. I don’t like to visit my son here,” Lawrence told us during a recent visit. Brooke’s son, Austin, was just 24-years-old when he died nearly two years ago. A tow truck operator at the time, Austin was just doing his job on the side of a busy Orlando parkway, when he was struck by a driver who failed to move over. “Broken everything. Broken arms, broken legs, broken stomach, brain injury, brain bleed,” Lawrence describes about the extent of her son’s injuries. 25 days after he was hit, the father of two died in the hospital. His injuries were just too much for his young body to bare. “His little boy looked out the window every day waiting for him to come home, he just didn’t come home. It’s not right, it’s not right,” Lawrence said through tears. First passed in 2002, Florida’s Move Over law requires drivers move over a lane or, if they can’t safely change lanes, slow down 20 miles under the speed limit when law enforcement, first responders or tow truck drivers are stopped on the side of the road. In 2014, the law expanded to also protect construction, sanitation and utility crews. But more than two decades after first taking effect in the state, is Florida’s Move Over law making life on the side of our roads any safer? “He was on the scene less than 15 minutes when it happened,” Lawrence said during a recent press conference at the Florida Highway Patrol office in Orlando to raise awareness about the law. “It was totally preventable what happened that day, it should have never happened,” Lawrence told reporters while detailing how her son’s wrecker was one of 6 vehicles parked on the side of the road that day tending to the disabled vehicle when the driver plowed through and struck her son. During the same press conference, Marissa Cruz had her own recent tragedy to share with the public too. “Not only was Paul an amazing husband and father, in our family, he was our hero,” Cruz said through tears. Less than three months ago, Cruz’s husband also a tow truck driver, was also killed by a move over violator. “The pain our family has felt is heart shattering,” Cruz said. Both Austin and Paul worked for the Johnson’s Wrecker Service when they were killed by drivers who didn’t follow the state’s Move-over law. For company owners, having two of its operators killed in two years by people who didn’t move over is unfathomable. “Slow down, move over give us some room,” said Dennis Johnson, one of the company’s owners. “It’s gut wrenching to relive those situations over,” Johnson explained while visibly frustrating over preaching a law too many are still breaking. When asked if the law has had the impact he hoped it would have, Johnson responded, “I hope it has a major impact that starts tomorrow or today but it ain’t there yet,” he said. Across the state, law enforcement video and images show the shocking consequences of drivers who fail to move over. Data collected by Florida’s Highway Patrol (FHP) also reveals their frequency. Since 2015, move over violators are behind, on average, one crash nearly every two days in our state, state data shows. In fact, a year after the law expanded, FHP statistics show the number of crashes, injuries and deaths from drivers who failed to move over remains relatively unchanged year after year. According to a recent AAA study, Florida also ranks among the leading states for people struck and killed each year while standing outside a disabled vehicle. This legislative session, its auto club plans to push Florida lawmakers to strengthen the Move Over law by making drivers also move over or slow down for cars that are disabled. “It’s a good law, unfortunately we still have people who break the law, so we still see the crashes and we still see people getting tickets,” explained Sgt. Steve Gaskins of FHP’s Tampa Bay district. He said despite taking effect more than twenty years ago, many drivers still don’t know the move over law even exists. “The drivers who were already driving before this became a law and before this was in drivers ed classes, that’s where the problem starts,” he said. That lack of awareness was also flagged as an ongoing problem in a 2020 report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office. In the report, which examined federal data available on emergency responder safety, researchers studied a handful of state move-over laws, including Florida’s. “Public awareness is a big challenge because all 50 states have a move- over a slow- down law, but those laws can vary,” said Elizabeth Repko, one of the authors who wrote the report. Penalties can also vary. In Florida, failing to move over is considered a moving violation with fines typically ranging between $120 and $170. While violators can also get three points on their license, in Illinois for example, fail to move over and drivers can get hit with up to a $10,000 fine and 15 points on their license. Dennis Johnson of Johnson’s Wrecker Service believes Florida’s Move Over law needs be toughened up to make a real difference. “To me there has to be higher penalties, higher fines maybe even the possibility of losing their license or having it suspended for a period of time,” he said. Austin’s mom, Brooke Lawrence, agrees. “It’s getting worse it’s not getting better,” she said about the up and down trend of crashes, injuries and deaths due to move over violators. “They should have to take a class to see what happens when they don’t do that law. How many people are affected when they don’t follow that law,” she asked. Her family is just one of them, victimized when a law created to protect them, couldn’t and still seems to have a long road ahead to getting there. “My son had his whole life in front him. He was so excited about just life,” she said. RESOURCE LINK