TowNews

Monrovia Fire thanks tow-truck driver for saving man from a burning vehicle MADISON COUNTY, Ala. – A tow-truck driver for a local dealership is being hailed a hero after helping a man escape from a burning vehicle in a wreck on Capshaw Road. Monrovia Volunteer Fire and Rescue wanted to thank Jeremy Price, who works for Woody Anderson Ford. Fire officials confirm that Price rescued a man from a burning vehicle on February 11. Price was reportedly towing a vehicle from a wreck when he came across another wrecked vehicle that was on its side, on fire and a man was trapped inside. Monrovia Fire officials say Price was able to help the disoriented driver out of the vehicle, who was still suspended by his seatbelt. “These actions are not something we see often, so we wanted to let you know what an impact it had on our department and bystanders.” Captain Blake Mathis said in a statement. LOCAL HERO: Bystander saves life by pulling driver from burning car Jeremy Price saved a young man’s life last Wednesday evening when he pulled the driver out of the wreckage of a burning car. Late in the evening around 11:00 PM, Jeremy Price, a tow truck driver for Woody Anderson Ford, was finishing up a job returning from picking up a wrecked vehicle, but as he traveled down Capshaw Road, he was called by God to another job. Near the Jeff Road intersection, Price witnessed an airborne vehicle, flipping, and landing on the passenger side. Price rushed towards the smoke-filled car and discovered the driver, a young man in his early twenties, was entangled in the vehicle. “When I saw flames coming from the engine, I knew there was no time to spare,” said Price. “It looked like a tunnel.” Priced climbed through the rear window of the vehicle and began untangling the young man wedged between the center console. “The driver was very disoriented, making the job even more difficult,” said Price. “The clock was ticking in my head, and as the flames grew, I knew time was running out.” In about 45 seconds, Price managed to remove the young man through the back window of the mangled vehicle. Price’s heroic efforts didn’t stop at just saving the driver. He then ran to his truck and retrieved a fire extinguisher and began trying to put out the growing flames. Shortly after that, the Monrovia Fire Department was on the scene. “I couldn’t just stand there and watch someone burn up,” said Price when asked what was going through his head. “I was just trying to do something I’d want someone to do for me if I was in a burning car.” Earlier in the evening, when Price got the call to retrieve the wrecked vehicle, he hoped it was closer to his house, but now he feels that God put him on that job for a reason. It’s likely that if Price hadn’t acted that the driver would have perished. Keith Atkins of Monrovia Fire Department, who was at the scene, said, “I don’t know if you realize how rare this is. People don’t normally do this type of thing.” “I’m in awe of Jeremy’s actions, he showed true heroism, urgency, and attention to detail,” said Cathy Anderson, Owner of Woody Anderson Ford. “Jeremy will be receiving special recognition over the coming days.” There were no passengers involved in the single-vehicle wreck. Investigative Reporters: Pam Boysen Wing & Garrett Coyne RESOURCE LINK

Bloomington City Council Passes Towing Ordinance Amid Tow Company Concerns A new Bloomington ordinance seeks to limit predatory towing, but some towing companies say it targets them. The ordinance called “non-consensual towing business” passed unanimously at Wednesday night’s city council meeting. It was the third hearing after contentious debate. City council president Steve Volan says the ordinance isn’t meant to accuse towing companies of being predatory. "The point of the ordinance is to rein in potential predatory towing whether or not it’s actually happening and I think that certainly that was our consensus at our first discussion of this ordinance.” Two amendments passed. One raises maximum towing fees from $125 to $135 to match county and Indiana University rates. Another allows the city to decline a towing license if the applicant isn’t in good standing with the law. Max Stryker of Stryker Towing and Repair says the ordinance doesn’t address recouping money after a violator pays 20-percent of fees to retrieve their car. "That doesn’t pay the driver, that definitely doesn’t pay fuel, insurance costs," Stryker says. "And it just worries me that we’re going to spend thousands to make hundreds.” Stryker says after civil court costs and no enforcement of payments, towing companies won’t get paid back. Council member Jim Sims who sponsored the ordinance said along with Volan that the ordinance will be closely followed by the council and can be revisited and improved upon in the future. RESOURCE LINK

Second suspect arrested in N. Portland tow truck yard assault; first suspect appears in court PORTLAND, OR (KPTV) - Portland police have arrested a second suspect in connection to a hit-and-run assault inside a north Portland tow truck yard. Police say they received a tip from a concerned citizen in the Centennial neighborhood at about 3 p.m. Monday after they saw a white van matching the one in the tow yard case. Officers arrived on scene and located the van matching the description and were notified that the suspect was inside a nearby home. The suspect, Kenneth Jett, 64, exited the home and officers were able to take him into custody, police said. He was booked into the Multnomah County Jail on second-degree criminal mischief. Police previously arrested 24-year-old Nicole O. Penagos-Clare. Investigators said she drove a stolen truck last Wednesday and hit a fence that slammed into an employee at 21st Century Towing on North Kerby Avenue. The crime was caught on camera. The victim in this case, Josh Durrett, was in court Tuesday for Penagos-Clare's arraignment. RESOURCE LINK

Police arrest woman in connection with theft, assault at N. Portland tow yard; officers still looking for other suspect PORTLAND, OR (KPTV) – Police have arrested one of two suspects who they say broke into a north Portland tow yard, stole a pickup truck and then hit an employee while fleeing the scene. The incident occurred early Wednesday at 21st Century Towing, located at 8510 N. Kerby Ave. The employee sustained a broken collar bone but is expected to be OK. On Sunday, police said the female suspect in the case had been arrested and identified, and the stolen truck was also recovered. Police say an employee of the tow company came across the stolen truck near Northeast 6th Drive and Northeast Middlefield Road on Saturday. The driver hooked it up to his tow truck so no one could drive away with it and called police. Officers had the truck seized as evidence. Saturday night, an officer was dispatched to a house in the 1600 block of Northeast 128th Avenue. An anonymous caller said they saw the video of the hit-and-run on television and believed the suspect was there. When police arrived, they saw the suspect. She ran from officers but was captured and arrested. Nicole O. Penagos-Clare, 24, was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on charges of robbery in the first degree, assault in the second degree, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, and failure to perform the duties of a driver-injury (C felony). Detectives are still asking for the public’s help to identify and locate the other suspect, who is described as a white man who is 60 to 70 years old with white hair. Police also want to locate a van that was possibly used by the suspects. RESOURCE LINK

Police: Indiana County man killed by own tow truck during repossession in McKeesport A tow truck driver from Indiana County making a repossession was killed early Tuesday in McKeesport when the tow truck he was operating rolled back over him, Allegheny County police said. Andrew Sester, 42, of Lucerne Mines (Center Township), was pronounced dead at 4:54 a.m., according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s office. McKeesport police and paramedics were dispatched at 4:45 a.m. for a man who was reported under a tow truck in the 2000 block of Monongahela Avenue. Allegheny County police assisted and they learned Sester the driver worked for International Recovery Systems, a company that repossesses vehicles. Sester was repossessing a pickup truck on Monongahela Avenue, police said. He stopped to secure the tow and alert his dispatch center, but it appears he didn’t put the tow truck in park and it rolled backwards over him, police said. When the dispatch center didn’t hear from Sester, they sent another truck and the other driver found Sester pinned under the rear wheels of the tow truck, police said. The truck was equipped with video and recorded the incident. Police don’t suspect foul play and the tow truck and pickup will be inspected. A spokesman for International Recovery Systems didn’t immediately return a message seeking comment. RESOURCE LINK

Page McCoy Smith writes on her Facebook Page: 02.17.20 A MAJOR shout-out to some Good Samaritans. I was driving on I-20 when my tire blew. The shoulder was very very narrow and I feared for my life - for about 1 minute. That’s when a tow truck and the couple driving it pulled-in behind me. The cars on the highway were driving at least 80 miles per hour and the fear I had for myself quickly shifted to fear for my new friends. It truly was terrifying and at one point my new friend had to leap on the side of the truck when a car came within an inch of hitting him. After 3 nail-biting minutes, the car was put on the tow truck and, a total of eight minutes later, I am safely inside the tire store. Thank you to God for his Grace and thank you to Kangaroo Towing. Good Morning Texas Whois Page McCoy Smith: News Channel Website Bio; https://www.wfaa.com/article/about-us/team-bios/paige-mccoy-smith/287-536757449 Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/paigemccoysmith

Tow truck community gathers to remember operator hit, killed by drunk driver Rodger Perez-Borotto had been stopped on the side of the road to help another driver when he was hit and killed. RESOURCE LINK with video

Tow trucks can 'assist the preservation of the scene and safety' of people, court rules The Region of Waterloo is reviewing a recent court ruling that says its bylaw that keeps tow trucks 200 metres from an accident unless they've been called there is "inconsistent" with part of the Highway Traffic Act. The region put this bylaw in place in May 2018. Court documents show a tow truck driver was charged for being too close to an accident scene on Sept. 20, 2018 in Kitchener. The driver, identified in court documents as Jasreet Singh Pahal of Able Regional Towing and Recovery, offered his services to a woman who had rear-ended another vehicle. He had not been called to the scene by police or anyone involved. Another tow truck that had been called by the driver who was rear-ended, was on scene. After he was ticketed, Pahal argued he was allowed to be at the scene under the Highway Traffic Act and in a ruling released Jan. 30, justice of the peace James Ziegler agreed. The region argued the bylaw "supplements" the Highway Traffic Act, but Ziegler said in his findings that, instead, the bylaw excludes tow trucks from attending emergencies. "The permission to tow truck operators to offer service in emergencies under section 177 is paramount province wide and is binding on the region," he wrote. As well, he noted that if a tow truck driver were to come upon a scene, they couldn't get out to see if people need assistance without contravening the bylaw. "This conflicts with the general exception for emergencies" under the Highway Traffic Act, Ziegler wrote. "If a tow truck was first on the scene, this could assist the preservation of the scene and safety of the affected parties, particularly until the police and other emergency services arrived," he wrote. Region to consider options In light of the ruling, Kris Fletcher, director of council and administrative services for the region, says they will review the decision and consider options. "At this time no decisions have been made on next steps," Fletcher said. Waterloo regional police Const. Ashley Dietrich said tow truck drivers should still keep their distance if they're not called to an accident. "Since the bylaw is still in place and seen as an enforceable piece of legislation, tow truck drivers, if found within the range of 200 meters from any collision, will be charged until the legislation changes," Dietrich said. 'Safe and fair' for public Al Pinheiro is president of the Waterloo Region Towing Association, which is made up of some local tow truck businesses. He says the association has no issues with the bylaw as it currently stands because the businesses have all agreed not to race to the scene of an accident to get there first. "The last thing that the driver needs to be worried about is who's towing their vehicle. They might have some injuries. You have to let EMS and fire [department] do their job," he said. Having tow truck drivers talking to the people involved "delays the work that the EMS and fire have to do." He says tow truck drivers should hold back and be as co-operative as possible, even though they're in a competitive industry where they are paid only when they can tow someone. Pinheiro says he's heard from local emergency officials who get frustrated when tow trucks are parked at the scene of an accident and in the way of ambulances or fire trucks. He said the association has a code of ethics they must abide by and if there is a complaint against a tow truck operator, if they're part of the association the association investigates it. If it is revealed a person paid too much for a tow, they're reimbursed, Pinheiro said. "At the end of the day, the customer still has the last say" in who tows their vehicle, he said. "We just want it to be safe and fair for everyone involved, mainly the public." RESOURCE LINK

https://www.worktruckonline.com/351084/drive-the-latest-vocational-trucks-at-the-work-truck-show-2020

Cops search for masked suspect after two males shot outside Thornhill mall York Regional Police say they are continuing to search for a masked suspect who they believe opened fire outside a Thornhill mall on Sunday night, seriously injuring a 17-year-old and a 30-year-old. Emergency crews were called to the parking lot of the Promenade Mall, located in the area of Bathurst and Centre streets, just before 9 p.m. for reports of shots fired. Upon arrival at the scene, officials said they located one of the male victims inside a grey sedan, while the other male victim was located just outside of the vehicle. A witness at the scene, who did not wish to be identified, told CP24 he was inside a white tow truck, labelled with the logo for “United Towing,” with a new driver he was training when they went to the parking lot to meet the company’s owner. The two males got out of the tow truck and approached the sedan before gunfire rang out, striking the man inside the car and the new tow truck driver. The witness said the gunman allegedly attempted to continue shooting but ran out of bullets. This incident is related to an ongoing tow truck turf war that has been occurring in the region for more than a year, the witness said. A police source confirmed the information from the witness to CP24 on Monday morning. The windows of the sedan, which remains at the scene on Monday morning, appear to be blown out and blood is seen to be smeared on one of the doors. The mall was closed at the time of the shooting. According to police, the suspect was wearing a mask and was last seen fleeing the area on foot in an unknown direction. Officers are appealing to anyone with further information regarding the investigation to come forward and contact investigators or Crime Stoppers anonymously. RESOURCE LINK with video

You'll soon be able to get free towing on most Harris County freeways. Here's how. When other people are leaving work is when Enrique gets to work, right beside homeward-bound commuters along a Houston freeway, ready to get a stranded vehicle out of the way. Inching along Interstate 45 behind the wheel of a tow truck, Luna spends most of his time looking and listening — making intermittent loops through the congestion looking for stranded vehicles on the shoulder and listening to about a half-dozen police scanners and radios around the truck’s cabin. “You listen for words,” Luna explains. “Then you drown out the other ones to listen to that one radio.” At any moment, one of the swarm of Tow and Go trucks sitting beneath overpasses or rolling along crowded Houston freeways can be dispatched to a disabled car or truck and remove it from the freeway for free. Soon, the swarm will have more territory to roam, with a planned expansion to more freeway lanes in Harris County. The program tows motorists off Houston freeways free of charge to a safe location up to a mile away. Tows are authorized by law enforcement at Houston TranStar, the region’s traffic management hub. Most cars and trucks, as well as motorcycles, are eligible for a free tow if stranded by a flat tire or engine failure. Vehicles immobilized by crashes are not eligible, as they typically are towed by insurance companies. After that free one-mile tow to a safe spot, usually a restaurant or gas station, the vehicle driver is on his own to call roadside assistance or hire another wrecker. Officials are finalizing contracts with towing companies that provide the service, to expand the free tows to most of Harris County. The expansion will take Tow and Go from around 175 miles of freeway to about 245 miles, when both directions are patrolled, program manager David Fink said. Initially officials had hoped to launch the expanded service on March 1, but the ongoing contract work likely will make that impossible. Fink said he now expects all of the county expansion to happen at the beginning of April or May. The program originated as SafeClear, a Houston program under then-mayor Bill White that offered free tows inside the city. In 2011, citing the cost, Houston began charging $50 for tows and the popularity of the program quickly declined. Seeing how fast stranded vehicles were cleared, regional planners worked for years to resurrect it. When the service re-started in May 2018, officials hoped to have a countywide system in place by early 2019. The service is funded with federal and state money aimed at congestion relief and safety, controlled by the Houston-Galveston Area Council. Stranded vehicles blocking lanes or road shoulders contribute to traffic and removing them quickly is “one of the most effective things we have seen,” said Alan Clark, director of transportation and air quality programs for H-GAC. The expansion to Harris County, however, comes with a few exceptions, Fink said. Baytown, Pasadena and Deer Park have not joined the program, which would require them to amend their existing tow contracts and authorize their police officers to order tows off the freeway. Fink also said the program is limited to where Houston TranStar monitors traffic with video cameras, which means Tow and Go service on U.S. 290 ends around Mueschke Road, and Interstate 10 towing stops at Spur 330 at Baytown. Eventually, provided funding and interest remains high, Fink said the goal is to move beyond Harris County into other counties where freeways are monitored. Along Harris County Toll Road Authority roadways, such as the Sam Houston Tollway and Katy Managed Lanes along I-10, a separate service overseen by the toll authority provides similar roadside assistance. The program assists between 4.300 and 5,400 stranded motorists a month, according to Houston TranStar data. In January, the service logged 4,548 incidents, most ending in a quick tow off the freeway. Since the service was revived by the Houston-Galveston Area Council, roughly two-thirds of the tows followed mechanical failures, said Fink, manager of H-GAC’s regional incident management program. The remaining tows were the result of flat tires. Tow and Go drivers — who work for local towing firms that have contracts for service along specific segments of the freeway — can change a flat tire if a spare is available or jump a dead battery for free, Luna said. Typically, they will tow someone off the roadway to perform the work. “It is safer for me as well as the customer,” Luna said on a recent shift. Finding someone to help can be hit or miss. Making his way along I-45 and Texas 288 within Loop 610 on a recent shift, Luna cast a wide net, scanning the freeway ahead and behind him as Boston’s “More Than A Feeling” strummed along amid the police scanners. So many people coming and going, it made for a congested freeway. Luna said that is exactly why the service helps keep people moving. Even those who have never needed Luna or his fellow tow truck drivers say they welcome having them on the road. “As many times as I see someone on the side of the road, I’m glad it’s not me,” said Clark Kelly, 55, who commutes along I-10 from Spring Hill Village to downtown. “When it is me, I want someone there.” RESOURCE LINK

2 tow truck workers airlifted after shooting in Homestead Video can be found in link below HOMESTEAD, FLA. (WSVN) - Two tow truck workers have been airlifted to the hospital after, officials said, they were ambushed and shot at their Homestead business. Homestead Police and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units have responded to the area of Southwest Third Avenue and Fourth Street, near downtown Homestead, just before 9 p.m. Police said one of the victims, who was found inside a tow truck, flagged down officers and told them he had been shot. After officers were informed about the shooting, they went to MIA Towing, located near Southwest First Street and Third Avenue. They found the second victim inside the business suffering from gunshot wounds. Both victims were airlifted to Ryder Trauma Center in critical condition. Investigators said the motive behind the shooting remains unclear. “Preliminary investigation, we believe that this is possibly a dispute over a towed vehicle or some type of an armed robbery that went bad,” said Homestead Police Detective Fernando Morales. “This is our preliminary investigation, having talked to the victims very briefly. as you can imagine, their main concern at this point is their health and getting them over to the trauma center.” Police have shut down three streets as they search for clues and search for the shooter. RESOURCE LINK with video If you have any information on this shooting, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a $1,000 reward.

Man steals tow truck in downtown Vancouver, nearly crashes into flower stand owner A Vancouver flower stand owner narrowly avoided injury after a stolen tow truck crashed right next to his business in the downtown core Thursday afternoon. Vancouver police say a 41-year-old man jumped into a BCAA tow truck while the operator was hooking up another person’s vehicle on Granville Street near Smithe Street. The man then tried to drive away with the stolen truck while the vehicle was being towed behind it, but quickly crashed into a Mobi bike share station, police said. The crash also took down a large metal Mobi signboard, which nearly missed Nahed Shamoun as he was selling Valentine’s Day flowers on the sidewalk. “I was standing right there,” he said while pointing close to where the tow truck ended up, “helping two young ladies get some flowers. And then I heard, ‘boom!'” Shamoun said the driver then fled towards Granville Street while the BCAA worker stopped the truck before it could continue towards the flower stand. RESOURCE LINK

Prosecutors said Sheridan Temms was driving 90 miles per hour before she collided with a parked car that struck and killed John William Hubbard on the side of Interstate 20/59. Temms said she crashed into the median-side guardrail when another driver pulled into her lane to avoid the tow truck. She crossed back over two lanes of traffic before hitting the parked car on the shoulder. Temms testified that she didn’t see the driver pulling into her lane, the tow truck or Hubbard changing a tire on the roadside. “In order to believe that Ms. Temms did not see that tow truck, you’d have to believe she had blinders on,” said Tuscaloosa County Assistant District Attorney Eddie Sherlock. “She saw the truck, she saw the other vehicle and she didn’t make the adjustments she needed to. She should have made different choices and she did not.” Temms had just dropped off her four children and was driving to work at 5:55 a.m. that Saturday in December 2016. The sun was just rising and it was still dark when traffic homicide investigators took photos of the crash site an hour later. Attorney Josh Swords, representing Temms along with attorney Hunter Brown, said the other driver, a University of Alabama student at the time, was breaking the state’s move-over law when he pulled into her lane. The man testified that Temms’ vehicle appeared to be about 100 yards behind him before he pulled to the left. He said he was about three-quarters of the way in the left lane and a quarter in the right lane. The jury will reconvene at 9 a.m. Friday. RESOURCE LINK Jury returns not guilty verdict in case involving tow truck driver’s death A jury has returned a verdict of not guilty in the case of a woman charged with causing the accident that killed a tow truck driver. Sheridan Temms, 32, was charged with criminally negligent homicide after the crash in December 2016. She was in the left lane when another car pulled into her lane to avoid John Hubbard as he changed a tire on the side of Interstate 20/59. Temms pulled to the left to avoid that vehicle before she struck the guardrail and crossed back over traffic. She struck the disabled vehicle that hit Hubbard, 25. Her attorneys, Josh Swords and Hunter Brown, said that if anyone was at fault, it was the driver who pulled into Temms’ lane. “Thank you to the jurors, our court system and the elected officials who presided over this trial to make sure fairness and justice is alive and well in Tuscaloosa County,” Swords said after the verdict was announced. “We are very happy with the jury’s decision to find Ms. Temms not guilty of criminally negligent homicide,” Brown said. “What happened out on the interstate is a tragic accident and our hearts go out to the Hubbard family. We have to have faith in our system of justice, and this verdict reinforces that faith.” Temms had just dropped off her four children and was driving to work at 5:55 a.m. that Saturday in December 2016. The sun was just rising and it was still dark when traffic homicide investigators took photos of the crash site an hour later. Prosecutors said she was driving 93 miles per hour right before the crash, and said the driver who pulled into her lane had no way of knowing that. The jury began deliberations late Thursday and returned the verdict just after 11 a.m. Friday. Jason Hubbard said he and his family members were disappointed in the verdict. “It was just as difficult as receiving that phone call on December 10th, 2016,” he said. “The best way to describe him after today -- even though this lady had caused him to lose his life ... -- if he saw her walking down the street tomorrow and she needed a shirt, he’d still pull that shirt off his back and give it to her,” he said of his brother. Swords told the jury Thursday that drivers who can’t safely pull from a lane near emergency workers are required to remain in their lane and slow their speed to 15 miles per hour below the posted limit. “Slow down and stay in your lane,” Swords said during closing arguments. “He didn’t do that. He slowed down and took up both lanes. He got in her lane, and that’s what caused the accident. “She hit the brakes and turned left. He left her nowhere else to go. She was focused on staying in her lane,” he said. “He got three-quarters of the way into her lane and made her eat a guardrail.” RESOURCE LINK

Dozens of tow truck drivers will lead procession Saturday after funeral for Springfield tow truck driver SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Dozens of tow trucks will participate in a funeral procession Saturday for a driver killed after he was struck on U.S. 65 in Springfield. Timothy Williams, an Affordable Towing driver, died February 7 after another driver hit him during a call. He was 55-years-old. Visitation is at Greenlawn Funeral Home North on Friday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Family and friends will remember Williams Saturday at a memorial at Freedom City Church on Division Street at noon. Burial will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens. A procession for the family and tow trucks will be after the funeral from the church to Greenlawn Memorial Gardens. “Heavy” tow truck drivers arriving are asked to park along the outside lane of westbound Commercial Street, north of Division. There is also on-street parking on northbound Boonville south of Division. “Light or Medium” tow truck drivers arriving Saturday are asked to park in the east parking lot at Cox North (Benton and Division). The procession route will then go west on Division to West Bypass. The trucks will then travel south on W. Bypass to James River Freeway (U.S. 60) and head east. The route will then travel to U.S. 65 and head north to I-44. Trucks will then head west on I-44 to Glenstone and take that north to Valley Water Mill and Greenlawn Memorial Gardens. Drivers are asked not to enter the cemetery, but to have an alternative plan to turn and head back to I-44 or Norton Road. MoDOT released these maps below. RESOURCE LINK

PORTLAND, OR (KPTV) - The owner of a north Portland towing company says an employee was injured early Wednesday morning by a woman who broke into the business to get her towed vehicle back. Just after 2:30 a.m., officers responded to 21st Century Towing, located at 8510 North Kerby Avenue, on the report of a crash. The owner of 21st Century Towing told FOX 12 that a woman had snuck under the gate to steal her pickup truck that had been impounded Tuesday evening. Surveillance video shows a man with bolt cutters try to cut through the fence. When he can't, a woman manages to squeeze herself under the fence and finds her impounded pickup truck. As the woman rammed the gate to get out, a tow truck driver was on the other side attempting to unlock it. The owner said the woman slammed into the employee and then fled the scene. "He went up there to unlock the gates, and pickup came barreling through the gates, took out the gate, knocked my son about 20 feet, hit his tow truck," said Jack Durrett, the father of the injured employee. Durrett told FOX 12 that his son, Josh, suffered a broken collar bone, a concussion, and a few scrapes and bruises. He was treated at an area hospital. The owner of the business says he has surveillance video of the break-in and gave it to police. The owner also says a license plate from the pickup was left at the scene. Police are continuing to investigate the incident. No other information has been released at this time. RESOURCE LINK with video

Pedestrian crossing south Sacramento street in dark struck, killed by tow truck, CHP says A 64-year-old man was struck and killed by a tow truck Tuesday night in south Sacramento, with witnesses telling authorities the pedestrian had fallen down in the roadway outside of a crosswalk before he was hit. The fatal crash was reported shortly after 8:30 p.m. on Fruitridge Road near 49th Street, the California Highway Patrol’s South Sacramento office said in a news release Wednesday morning. Two witnesses observed a pedestrian, who was wearing dark clothes, crossing Fruitridge Road outside of a crosswalk when he fell down in the eastbound fast lane, according to the news release. A flatbed tow truck traveling at around 40 mph was unable to avoid the man lying in the roadway, according to the CHP. The driver braked but did not see the pedestrian in the darkness until the last moment, striking him, the news release said. The man succumbed to injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by Sacramento Fire Department personnel, according to the news release. Alcohol and drugs are not believed to be factors in the collision, and no arrests were announced by the CHP. The victim’s identity will be released by the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office pending notification of family. The CHP South Sacramento office reminded pedestrians to use crosswalks, follow traffic signals and take caution when crossing the street at night. Authorities also recommend wearing light-colored or reflective clothing, or carrying a flashlight, to make yourself visible to vehicle traffic. ----------------- NOTE: Our Thought's & Prayers Go Out for the tragic loss of life. However, we must continue those Thought's & Prayers to the Tow Truck Driver who has been impacted by such a tragic event. Many of us fear this regularly as we have pedestrians walk out in front of us, often wearing dark clothing.

ROCK COUNTY, Wisc. (KCRG) - Dashcam video shows a vehicle slamming into the back of a tow truck in Wisconsin, which narrowly misses hitting a worker on the side of the road. It happened along I-39/90 on Feb. 9 in Rock County, Wisconsin, according to the Department of Transportation. In Wisconsin and Iowa, drivers are required to move over or slow down when approaching emergency vehicles that have warning lights flashing, including tow trucks. It's known as the 'Move Over Law.' In the last three years, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation said there have been more than 2,300 violations of the law. There were 922 convictions in 2019. RESOURCE LINK with video

If you're not already on the edge, check this out. Then follow the link to read the rest of the ______ ! "The Senate rejected a proposed expansion of protections for tow-truck drivers that would have toughened penalties for a failure to move over to the next lane for service vehicles stopped on the side of the road to match the penalty for failing to move over for law enforcement, firefighters or EMS." Must Read Resource Link

Police say tow truck driver charged with impaired "especially alarming" Thunder Bay Police arrested a tow truck driver for impaired driving on Friday, February 7th, after numerous members of the public reported the driver for erratic driving. Police said in a written release that just before 6 p.m. on Feb. 7, a 911 call was received regarding a possible impaired driver operating a tow truck on the Harbour Expressway. Police said it was "especially alarming" that a pickup truck was strapped onto the flatbed of the tow truck, which was recently loaded at the scene of a separate vehicle collision. The tow truck was described as weaving across lanes of travel and striking a snowbank. Police say more calls began to "pour in" concerning the driver, which allowed officers to find the path of travel of the tow truck. Police located the tow truck on Rosslyn Road in Thunder Bay Ont., and found the truck driver had reversed into a ditch, becoming lodged. Police determined the individual was impaired by drugs, and was subsequently charged with impaired operation of a conveyance, as well as driving while under suspension. The tow truck was impounded for 7 days and the driver's licence was further suspended for 90 days. The Thunder Bay Police Service are thanking members of the public for quickly calling to report the driver. They say with the assistance from the public a potentially devastating situation was averted. RESOURCE LINK

Crash kills Missouri tow truck driver, proves importance of ‘Move Over’ law CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KFVS) - A Missouri tow truck driver was killed on the job Friday Feb. 7 when he was struck by vehicle on the a state highway north of Springfield. Emergency workers in the Heartland say the crash is an important reminder for all drivers to follow the state’s ‘Move Over’ law. “It’s a huge problem and it’s only getting worse you know the distracted driving is at an all time high,” said Ron Pratt with Midwest Truck Sales & Service Inc. Pratt has had some close calls working on the side of the road and said it can turn deadly in seconds. “Quite honestly it drives some people away from the industry because it scares them. They have a close call out on the interstate and they leave, they’re done," Pratt said. Pratt said the worker who was killed while on the side of the road Friday is far from the first case, even this year. “We’ve had the worst start to the year we’ve ever had," Pratt said. "In 2020 within the first 48 hours we had four operators across the nation hit.” Sgt. Clark Parrott with the Missouri State Highway Patrol said troopers do write tickets when drivers fail to move over, and in Missouri that includes not giving space to road crews, utility vehicles, and tow trucks using white and amber lights. “That highway out there is our office. We’re making traffic stops on the roadways everyday and we can not encourage people enough to slow down and move over," Parrott said. “First we have to pay attention. When we are too busy doing things inside the car we don’t recognize threats around us and a car on the shoulder we need to pay attention to it.” As a way to improve Missouri’s move over law, Pratt is hoping lawmakers push for harsher fines, stricter enforcement, but also for people to develop safer driving habits. “Even if there is no lights on, nothing I move over, just because it has effected me that much knowing that I could be hit, my family could be hit,” Pratt said. “Just take a few extra seconds out of your day to move over a lane and slow down 15, 20 miles an hour.” On average one tow truck driver is killed every six days, according to AAA. Both Illinois and Tennessee have added on to their move over laws last year. RESOURCE LINK with video

Jan 28 2017 Funeral procession of tow trucks honoring Danny Sancinati of N&S towing Inc. West Allis Wi. Not pictured in this video is the first truck in the funeral procession with the Danny's sons race car and another truck which can be seen leaving on a call at the very first few seconds of the video. Always on duty even at a funeral, they restlessly work. Counting all trucks displaying lights, and a couple not seen in this video there were 65 trucks. Also pictured at the end are local law enforcement, including a 1940 Chevy pick up which N&S helped donate as well as others to the Greenfield P.D. as a DARE vehicle.. I would also like to thank my Father for shooting this video while I was in the procession. Submitted by Chris Welvang

A jury trial began Monday for a Tuscaloosa driver involved in a fatal collision that left a tow truck driver dead more than three years ago. Sheridan Temms crashed into a disabled vehicle that struck John William Hubbard as he worked an early-morning wreck about a mile from the McFarland Boulevard exit of Interstate 20/59. Hubbard, 25, suffered injuries during the collision and later died at DCH Regional Medical Center. A grand jury indicted Temms, 32, on a charge of criminally negligent homicide and a ticket for reckless driving nearly a year later. Testimony began Monday in the trial before Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court Judge Brad Almond. Temms was in the left lane of the interstate when a driver in the right lane pulled in front of her in an attempt to follow the state’s move-over law, her attorneys Josh Swords and Hunter Brown told jurors. The other driver clipped her vehicle, causing her to veer left and crash into the median-side guardrail before crossing back across the two lanes of traffic and colliding with the parked vehicle. The owner of the parked vehicle filed civil lawsuit against Temms and the other driver in 2018. The complaint in that case states Temms was driving “at a excessively high rate of speed.” Hubbard, who lived in Quinton, called “Hubba Bubba” by family and friends, had worked for Classic/Passmore Towing for more than five years. After his death, friends, co-workers and family members advocated to increase the penalty for violating the state’s “move-over” law. The trial, prosecuted by Tuscaloosa County Assistant District Attorney Eddie Sherlock, will resume Tuesday morning. RESOURCE LINK Tow Truck Processional for, 25-year-old John William "Bubba" Hubbard II - 12.17.16 Tow Truck Processional fro John Hubbard Leaving Crestview Memorial Funeral Home in Alabama TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Tow truck operator John Hubbard knew his life purpose early on. Hubbard asked for a job at Passmore Towing and Recovery in Bessemer at age 20. Five years later, early Saturday morning, his earthly mission ended. Fellow tow truck drivers tell ABC 33/40 Hubbard was the type guy who went out of his way to help people."He was a hard worker. He loved his job. He loved the towing business. You've got to love it to do it," said Dwayne Kizziah, owner of Dwayne's Towing and Recovery in Tuscaloosa. Wednesday, traffic homicide investigators mapped the scene where Hubbard was killed over the weekend on Interstate 59/20. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said two vehicles collided Saturday causing one to strike the disabled car Hubbard was servicing. ALEA has not determined if Alabama's Move Over Law was a factor in the crash. Either way, tow truck operators like Kizziah want you to slow down and move over."I worked one [a crash] one time and all I heard was run. Everybody ran through the bushes and cars were piling up because somebody came through there and started hitting their breaks trying to see what was going on and they just piled up and it caused more accidents than we were working," Kizziah said while explaining why the Move Over Law is so important. AAA Alabama also released a statement concerning Hubbard's death. “AAA service providers face treacherous highway conditions every day in their efforts to help stranded motorists. Working on the side of the highway is very dangerous and emergency personnel are always concerned for their safety. It is extremely important that motorists understand and obey the Move Over Law to prevent these unnecessary injuries and deaths on our highways," said Clay Ingram with AAA Alabama. Tow truck operators from across the region will drive their trucks in Hubbard's funeral procession this weekend. After the funeral service at 2 p.m. this Saturday, the procession will travel from Crestview Memorial Funeral Home in Jefferson County to Pumpkin Center Baptist Church in Walker County. "We're going to take our trucks, show respect, and bring awareness to the law. We don't want anybody else killed," Kizziah explained. RESOURCE LINK John William “Bubba” Hubbard II, 25, of Quinton, passed away Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016, after a tragic accident. As a result, John chose to give life to others as an organ donor. Bubba worked for Classic/Passmore Towing for more than five years, a true calling and passion. Being a tow truck driver allowed him to follow his love of helping others. He was a man that followed the Golden Rule. He loved his Lord and loved to live life to the fullest. His love for his Momma, “Jabo,” “Pooh” and “Baby Tula Jane” was strong. Bubba also had a love for playing music with his brothers and “Edna Faye,” and a love for animals, fishing, blowing stuff up and moonshine. He was loved and cherished by his family and will be forever missed. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Troy McCain and Vickey McCain; great-grandparents, Herb Grove, Grace Grove, Victor Moore Sr., and Lillian Moore; aunts, Dixie McCain, Yvonne Howard, and Denise Hyche; and uncle, Victor Moore Jr. Bubba is survived by his mother, Angie Smith (Mark Yarbrough); brothers, Jared “Jabo” Hubbard and Jason “Pooh” Hubbard (Devon Salter); baby sister, Olivia “Tula Jane” Hubbard; nephew, Gavin Hubbard; aunts, Lynn Higgins (Bruce), Christy Duncan (Roger), Victoria Shirley and Ryan Dailey (Jeremy); special aunt, KK Fout; uncle, Shannon Glaze (Misty); grandmother, Shirley “GS” Glaze; aunt and uncles, Bob and Cathy Carswell, Bruce and Janice, Ed and Linda Morris, Gerald Howard, Gail Howard, and Randy and Margaret Davenport; his “Pappy,” Wesley Passmore and family; cousins, Colby (Jessie), Vicki (Justin), Baby Bruce, Elijah, Desiree (Alex), Shelby “Edna Faye,” Lilly, Josh “Corn Dog,” John Stephen, Desmond, Xavier, Ariel, Cameron, Morgan, Bobby, Lynn, Lillian, Amber, JT, Booger, Lee, Amy, Jerry, Amanda, Scarlett, and Dee; and many other extended family members and friends; and especially his co-workers, who he considered to be his brothers and family. Funeral services will be Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016, at 2 p.m. at Crestview Memorial Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 11:30 a.m. until time of service. Burial will at Sunset Cemetery in Pumpkin Center. Pallbearers will be Bubba’s tow truck brothers, David Sanford, Frankie McMillian, Chris Hamric, Brad Pullen, Ryan Cartee, Josh Ward, Jeremy Hogg and Justin Rubin. The family would like to extend a special thanks to Wes Passmore, Ryan Daily, the Hoggle Family singers, and the many other friends who have helped the family through this difficult time. RESOURCE LINK Proud of our association for the work we did back in 2009 to make the laws discussed in this interview apply to our profession. Unfortunately, as this tragic accident proves, we still have work to do. Let's everyone remain vigilant and do our part to make sure our brothers and sisters come home safely to their families at the end of the day. There is still work to be done! We are also asking for anyone who can bring a truck out to participate in the funeral procession for John (Bubba) Hubbard tomorrow (Saturday) at 11:30 at Crestview Memorial Funeral Home in Adamsville, AL. Let's rally around this family and honor, love, and support them. RESOURCE LINK

Tow truck operators ask you to watch them, move over after death of Timothy Williams SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Two men from Springfield want you to pay attention to the road the entire time you're driving. They know their lives depend on it. Those men spoke with us just days after a fellow tow truck driver was hit and killed while working on U.S. 65. It's a risky job, and what they're saying is: move over. It seems to be a simple thing to do, but they say too many people have other things on their minds when they're behind the wheel. Terry Harden is just like you. He knows drivers can have a lot on their minds... "I gotta get my daughter picked up from school," he began. "I gotta get my pizza home to the family, I gotta get to the grocery store to get whatever, I gotta talk on my telephone to my boyfriend, text my girlfriend." But Harden knows unlike many of us, his job puts him right in those distracted drivers' paths. "We lose one tow truck driver every six days," he said. That nationwide statistic took on a personal level Friday night north of Springfield. Fellow tow truck driver Timothy Williams was hit and killed while working along Highway 65. Williams would've turned 56 Saturday. RESOURCE LINK with video

DFW SCANNER GROUP reports: Major accident with entrapment (Haltom City) Fort Worth is working a major accident on the 4300 block of west bound NE loop 820 just past Haltom Rd. PD on scene reports a wrecker driver was working to load an abandoned RV up and was under the vehicle when it was hit by another car. The tow truck driver is trapped under the vehicle and FW is working to get him out safely. There are few details at this point other than the Tow Truck Operator did survive. He suffered both legs being broken and numerous bruises. More details will be added when they become available. If anyone can provide more information please fill us in and we will wait to see if the is a news report prior to releasing the company name. Towing Company has been named: Silverstar Heavy Towing & Truck Repair UPDATE: DFW Scanner FB page. The Move Over Slow Down Law applies to tow trucks, too! The law states motorists must move over a lane, or slow to 20MPH under the posted speed limit, when passing an emergency scene on the highway. This tow truck driver was injured and sent to the hospital after this driver struck his tow truck. Barry Metzing of Silverstar Heavy Towing reported on the DFW Scanner page. Silverstar Wrecker Svc just ask for prayers at this time. He is doing fine just has alot of injuries. It's very hard for me because it was my manager and my right had man to the company. From what we know his pelvic bone is busted also shattered kneecap possibly broken foot. 16 Staples in his head.