TowNews

Man waiting for tow truck found slumped over wheel in Burien Friday afternoon On Friday afternoon, Jan. 3, 2020, a man was found slumped over the wheel of a truck near SW 148th Street and Ambaum Blvd. SW. Police say that earlier in the day the man was involved in an accident between his pick-up truck and another car. The pick-up truck had a broken axle, so the driver – a 65-year old male – drove it around the corner to wait for a tow. After several hours of waiting for a tow truck, a passerby noticed that the driver was slumped over. Police responded and began CPR, and also applied an AED (Automated External Defibrillator). Aid arrived and continued CPR, and the man was transported to Highline Medica Center. His current condition is unknown. “We don’t know if he had a medical issue or if this was caused by an earlier collision, all part of the investigation,” Sgt. Ryan Abbott told The B-Town Blog. King County Sheriff’s MARR Detectives are investigating. RESOURCE LINK Burien Police Department released this statement at 6:00pm 1/3/2020 2:39 PM- A 65 year old male that was found slumped over the wheel of his truck at SW 148 and Ambaum with no pulse. After life saving efforts by both Burien PD and Burien Fire, he was transported to the hospital. It is unknown if his condition was a medical event, caused by an earlier collision, or some combination to the two. That investigation is ongoing.

MOUNT VERNON, Ky. (WKYT/WYMT) - Update 1:15 1/1 Kentucky State Police say 69-year-old Jack McIntosh of Richmond was driving a wrecker towing a disabled semi. McIntosh merged onto I-75 when 70-year-old Samuel G. Thomas of Candor, NC struck the rear of the semi being towed. The Rockcastle County Coroners pronounced Thomas dead at the scene. No one else was injured. Original Story A deadly crash closed all southbound lanes of I-75 in Rockcastle County Tuesday evening. Sister station WKYT reports the crash happened near the 72-mile marker, between Berea and Mt. Vernon. We do not know how many vehicles are involved or how many people were injured at this time.

In Loving Memory of Larry Kizer 1957 - 2019 Larry Kizer, 62, of Louisville, Kentucky, passed away on Tuesday, December 31, 2019. Larry was an Impoundment Officer with the Louisville Metro Police Department for over 18 years. He loved his beloved cats, Casper and Little Man, and his beloved dog Dixie. Larry was always known for feeding and helping the cats in the Impound Yard. He enjoyed bike riding, roller skating, going to the beach, and spending time with his grandchildren. Larry was a season pass holder for Holiday World where he would take his Grandsons. He was born on July 27, 1957 in Fort Benning , Georgia to Frank and Ruth (Lawson) Kizer. Larry is survived by his Daughters Amy Kizer (Deric Pollock), and Bethany Kizer, Fiancée Shelia Benson, Parents, Sister, Ann Kizer Waggoner, Grandchildren, Jaylen Stallard, and Deric Dewayne Pollock, and numerous Nieces and Nephews. Larry also leaves behind, to cherish his memory, the Louisville Metro Police Department Family, Extended Family and a Host of Friends. Visitation will be from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Wednesday, January 8, 2020 at Newcomer Cremations, Funerals & Receptions - Southwest Louisville Chapel, (10304 Dixie Hwy). His Funeral Service will be at 11:00 am on Thursday, at Newcomer Cremations, Funerals & Receptions - Southwest Louisville Chapel. In Lieu of Flowers, family requests that contributions in Larry’s memory be made to Alley Cat Advocates www.alleycatadvocates.org. To leave a special message for the family, please visit www.NewcomerKentuckiana.com Services & Gatherings Visitation: Wednesday, January 8, 2020 from 4:00pm to 8:00pm Newcomer Cremations, Funerals & Receptions 10304 Dixie Highway Louisville, KY 40272 502-935-0056 Directions & Map Service: Thursday, January 9, 2020 at 11:00am Newcomer Cremations, Funerals & Receptions 10304 Dixie Highway Louisville, KY 40272 502-935-0056 Directions & Map

Stacey Tucker took over Chico Towing from her father, who took it over from his father, who began the company 75 years ago. Generational businesses are declining, and Tucker has decided it’s time for her to step away from hers. She's passing the keys of her tow trucks onto motivated younger owners who she says can carry on the same values of her business. The merger of Chico Towing with Kitsap Towing became official on Wednesday. Tucker said Kitsap Towing, owned by Jaci and Dave Bryant, is the only company she would sell to. The Bryants purchased Kitsap Towing from its original owners four years ago. “Anyone can learn how to tow a car but how you treat the people you’re taking care of makes all the difference in the world,” Tucker said. Tucker said the two companies worked together many times previously as “friendly competitors.” Jaci Bryant said Kitsap Towing's mantra is "We don't tow cars, we help people." She said they try to keep that in mind in every decision they make. "When you’re looking for growth I don’t know a better place to look than a family business that’s ready to move on to a new venture of their life, too," Jaci Bryant said. Some of the tow trucks will now have "Kitsap-Chico Towing" lettering. Bryant said they just turned the phones over, and Kitsap Towing has gotten as many calls from people looking for their Chico Towing calendars as they have from customers who need help. "We’ve never done a calendar before I guess that’s something that we’ll have to keep going," she said. Kitsap Towing will be bringing on four previous employees from Chico Towing. Others will lose their jobs in the sale. Tucker says she's trying to support her previous employees in any way she can. All of Tucker's tow trucks will be moving to Kitsap Towing, though some will be sold off and will help fund updates to the fleet. The merging of businesses also allows Kitsap Towing to provide better benefits to its staff, Bryant said. Tucker said it was important to her to sell to someone local who understood the community. “I wanted the thread of the good things that we do to carry on. Kitsap Towing is the only one that could have done that.” Towing is typically a family business As of Jan. 1, 2020, Chico and Kitsap Towing are merging, as Stacey Tucker, far left, steps back from her family business. (Photo: Contributed / Stacey Tucker) There are about 45,000 towing companies in the United States and a vast majority are family-owned and operated, Tucker said. It’s a capital-intensive industry to get into, with tow trucks costing upwards of $100,000 on top of expensive insurance policies. “People don’t sit around and say, ‘OK, I got $2 million dollars in the bank, let’s run a 24/7, capital-intensive, really risky business with a super low-profit margin,’” Tucker said. It also takes broad skillset to run the business, and people with that level of skill will get hired for other jobs before turning to towing, she said. “You really need that dedication of a highly-committed person at the helm,” Tucker said. Tucker’s 21-year-old son is at Tish Film School in New York. Her 19-year-old is pursuing his own entrepreneurial endeavors, and her 16-year-old daughter is still in high school. None of her kids was a good choice to move the business to, nor did she want to put that work on them. So, she looked to Kitsap Towing. Long-running Kitsap business Stacey Tucker's grandfather Don Tucker stands with one of the original fleet at Chico Towing. (Photo: Contributed by Stacey Tucker) Chico Towing started out in a location of its namesake on Chico Way, in what is now M&T Coffee, a small drive-through coffee shop. The shop now smells of bacon instead of gasoline, and bottles of flavored syrups sit where Tucker’s great-grandpa Harry used to sell eggs and bread at his country store. Her grandpa, Don Tucker, founded the business in 1945. He came to the area from Montana looking for work during World War II. He got a job at the shipyard, but it didn’t fit him, Tucker said. He decided to purchase a repair shop in Chico, with the towing part of the business coming later. “Little kids would come and need air in their bike tire,” Tucker said. “He was all about building relationships.” 2019 in review: Top Kitsap news stories Tucker’s father started working at the business as a kid and grew up in a house right behind the service station. “My dad was driving a tow truck when he was 12 years old,” Tucker claims. “State Patrol would be like, 'You’re 12 you don’t even have a license, get this car and get home.' You couldn’t do that today.” Her father, Pat Tucker, now lives in a home across from the original site in Chico where Tucker and her cousins would play while her dad and grandpa worked. “My grandfather’s love was the repair work and my dad’s love was the towing,” she said. Growing up, Tucker recalls her dad’s work boots sitting next to his bed for middle-of-the-night calls. It wasn’t unusual to find a customer asleep on the couch the next morning if they had no way to get home after their car was towed. In the late ’70s, her father sold the repair business and moved the towing operation to Bremerton, where it had three different locations over time. Chico Towing was once housed at what is now Gerber Collision and Glass before moving to Callow Avenue and eventually Wycoff Avenue. An ambulance-and-answering service was added for a few years, but both eventually were sold off, and towing remained the focus. Shattering towing stereotypes Tucker took over Chico Towing in 1994. She had a vision to create a professional industrial park, but it took eight years after buying the land in 1998 to move the business. In 2006, Chico Towing moved to its current location on Tweed Lane, hidden off the west side of Highway 3 past other auto businesses like Les Schwab, Enterprise and Nissan. “People come up there and say this doesn’t look like a towing yard,” Tucker said. “And I’m like, I don’t want it to, so thank you.” Tucker has had a strong voice in the towing industry and has shattered stereotypes along the way. Not many women advance in the towing industry, she said. Growing up in towing, Tucker witnessed women doing behind-the-scenes work for businesses that their husbands helmed. Rarely did they hold administrative roles. But that’s changed during her 25 years in towing, and more women have shaped and improved the industry in big and small ways, she said. Women offer a unique and important perspective to the business: while men are often very technically savvy and great at running recovery scenes, women are great at monitoring the health of the business, considering safety and caring about customers. “A woman’s going to make sure cab of the truck is as clean as you would have it for your grandmother,” Tucker said. Safety has been one of Tucker’s main concerns over the years, and she’s promoted education in the industry at both local and national levels. Tow truck drivers are at risk of being killed along busy highways while doing their job — one of Tucker’s biggest fears. There’s a slow-down and move-over law, but it’s hardly enforced, she said. “I’m not going to miss getting a late-night phone call in the office and being terrified that somebody’s been killed along the highway.” But that’s changed during her 25 years in towing, and more women have shaped and improved the industry in big and small ways, she said. Women offer a unique and important perspective to the business: while men are often very technically savvy and great at running recovery scenes, women are great at monitoring the health of the business, considering safety and caring about customers. “A woman’s going to make sure cab of the truck is as clean as you would have it for your grandmother,” Tucker said. Safety has been one of Tucker’s main concerns over the years, and she’s promoted education in the industry at both local and national levels. Tow truck drivers are at risk of being killed along busy highways while doing their job — one of Tucker’s biggest fears. There’s a slow-down and move-over law, but it’s hardly enforced, she said. “I’m not going to miss getting a late-night phone call in the office and being terrified that somebody’s been killed along the highway.” A changing and growing Kitsap has transformed towing since Tucker was a child watching her dad and grandpa. It’s much less rural, and cars are more sophisticated and expensive, she said. “Now the accidents are not low-speed accidents, even on the highway if it’s all clogged up are not low-speed accidents,” Tucker said. A hallway at Chico Towing highlights Tucker’s success and chronicles the family business through its several locations. It's lined with framed photos of her family at the business over the decades, newspaper clippings, awards and a young Stacey Tucker on the cover of business magazines. She’s been honored as National Tow Woman of the Year, has spoken at national industry conferences, and was president of Washington state’s towing association. “It’s a hard business, I don’t know why people love it, but I love it, too,” she said. “I guess we love it because we feel like we are uniquely qualified to help people in times that are not very happy for them.” Despite her success in the industry, things weren’t always easy. It took eight years to move the business to its current location and create a state-of-the-art facility in 2006. Then the economy crashed. In 2011, Tucker’s right-hand man, Larry Mersereau, lovingly called “Uncle Larry,” died suddenly of a heart attack. Events in her personal life colluded to the point that she felt she was at risk of losing it all. All she could do was tell herself to “just keep going.” “To me, failure wasn’t an option," Tucker said. "And I came through it, and I wish I could tell you how because I don’t really know. It’s just grit.” There have been some memorable moments in Tucker’s time in the towing industry, like retrieving beached whales from the shore, rescuing horses out of mud pits, and moving torpedoes for the Turner Joy. But most calls are just people who need their broken vehicles moved to the repair shop, accidents, DUIs or emergencies. Impounds are a relatively small percentage of the business, Tucker said. 2019 was Chico Towing’s best year of business, and she’s thankful to be “going out strong.” What’s next for Tucker? “The first thing I look forward to is a snow day at home with my grandkids. In the 25 years of the business, I never had that,” she said. She plans to continue to manage the commercial property at Tweed Lane and help with administrative work for her husband’s construction business. Tucker will travel and visit her other home in Mexico, where she wants to become more involved in the community. Chico Towing will still have its auction on the first Saturday of this month and will be auctioning off over 60 vehicles from its Tweed Lane site. It begins at 9 a.m. on Jan. 4 at 130 Tweed Lane NW. Stacey Tucker received many awards and recognition over the years, being named American Towman in 1999. (Photo: Jessie Darland / Kitsap Sun) RESOURCE LINK

Tow truck driver hurt delivering vehicle to Lapeer dealership A tow truck driver is recovering after he was hurt while delivering a vehicle to a Lapeer Dealership. The owner of the towing company tells us a 19-year-old was unloading the vehicle on Tuesday when he was run over as it was coming off of the flatbed. Questions remain about what happened after the accident, and how quickly the driver was able to get care. "It was disbelief," Larry LaCroix said. That's what LaCroix, the owner of Cut Rate Auto Repair, felt when he learned his Tow Truck driver Jacob Budrow was accidentally run over by a car. LaCroix says it happened at Jim Riehl's Friendly Automotive Group. That's where Budrow was dropping off a vehicle. "He got inside of it and set the emergency brake and tried to get the disabled vehicle off the truck,” LaCroix said. “And then he made a mistake and popped the shifter cable off, the emergency brake didn't hold and the vehicle kind of rolled over top of him." Budrow suffered a collapsed lung, two broken ribs, and four fractured vertebrae. LaCroix claims that workers at the dealership that saw the mishap didn't call 911. "If I see somebody get ran over by a vehicle, and four of his employees was out there witnessing it, I’m not going to ask him and see if needs medical attention,” he said. “My first response is going to be call 911 immediately." TV5 reached out to the owner of the dealership and was told he was in a meeting and would not be available today. But the company did release this statement on Facebook: “Unfortunately, an accident happened on our dealership property Tuesday late afternoon when a tow truck driver went to remove a disabled vehicle from his flatbed truck. Our dealership wishes the driver a speedy recovery and is extremely glad that the driver wasn't hurt worse when he was removing the vehicle from his truck. Numerous attempts were made to have the driver agree to receive medical attention during the times in which he stood up, moved away from the vehicle, walked to his truck, and when he was inside his truck. We finally called his company's office to have them come down and talk with him. Again, our thoughts have and will remain with the driver that was injured.” One thing is clear, everyone is glad he didn't lose his life. "I could not have lived with myself if something like that would've happened," LaCroix said. RESOURCE LINK with video

Company Statement: With a very heavy heart we must relay some truly saddening news. We have lost a member of the D & S Tow family. A very talented hook that delivered whatever that was asked. From hauling equipment, recovering off-road, training a newbie, perfect AAA service, overseeing dispatch on the big screen or delivering perfect paperwork. From the front line customer to the back office personnel Matt will be truly missed! Family Statement: Last year Matt got really ill, was in ICU for almost a month. He recovered, and was doing well. Putting the pieces of his life back together. Late yesterday afternoon my son Matt passed away. We do not know the cause yet, as he was found in his bed, we thought he was sleeping as he had been ill for a few days. Matt has two kids, Zachary 16 years old and Ashlyn 7 years old. Needless to say we are devastated. Please keep us in your prayers. We are setting up this Go Fund Me account to help with the funeral expenses and to help support his kids. Thank you everyone who has reached out already. Matt McCarthy was loved my many and is missed so very much. "Son, I love you with every ounce of my being. I know that you are in the Lords care now and I know we will meet again." I cant believe you are not here..we are shattered. Anything you can donate will be greatly appreciated. Thank you and May God bless and hold you and us, always. Thank you, Matt's Family GoFundMe Link

Tow truck driver fatally struck by vehicle on I-290 in Maywood A tow truck driver was struck by a vehicle near 9th Avenue while towing cars from an earlier crash, state police said. A tow truck driver was fatally struck by a vehicle Wednesday on Interstate 290 in Maywood. Authorities were called about 6 a.m. to eastbound I-290 near Ninth Avenue, Illinois State Police said. A tow truck driver was towing cars from an earlier crash when they were hit by a vehicle. The Cook County medical examiner’s office hasn’t released details about the fatality. The driver of the vehicle that struck the person was taken to an area hospital with minor injuries, state police said. RESOURCE LINK Tow truck driver killed while assisting crash on I-290 CHICAGO (WREX) — A tow truck driver is dead after being hit by a vehicle while on scene of a separate crash early on New Years Day. Illinois State Police say they received a call for a pedestrian being hit by a car on I-290 near 9th Ave. around 6 a.m. Wednesday morning. Authorities say the tow truck driver was outside of his vehicle helping a previous crash when he was hit by another vehicle. The tow truck driver was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the vehicle which hit the tow truck driver was taken to the hospital with minor injuries, according to police. No word if the driver of the other vehicle will be charged. RESOURCE LINK

Tow Truck Driver Warns Of Highway Dangers (MA) A tow truck driver is reminding motorists to move over after two troopers were injured in separate crashes. WBZ-TV's Mike LaCrosse reports.

SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) — A pedestrian was hurt when he stepped out in front of a tow truck. It happened New Year’s Eve in the 500 block of Market Street in downtown Shreveport. The truck’s driver had the light at Market at Texas Street when the homeless man walked out in front of him, authorities said. The extent of the man’s injuries is not immediately known. He did have a leg splint when he was taken to a hospital for treatment. The accident impacted travel on Market Street, with traffic backed up to the Convention Center at one point. The roadway has since been cleared. RESOURCE LINK with video

LMPD tow truck driver killed on WB I-64 near Cannons Lane LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A Louisville Metro Police Department tow truck driver was killed on westbound I-64 near Cannons Lane. Officials said around 9:15 a.m., the driver was dispatched to I-64 to tow a truck that had been abandoned on the highway. While the driver was hooking up the truck, something went wrong and the driver became trapped under the vehicle, according to police. Police said the driver was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials said no one else was injured. According to police, the driver was a city employee who worked for the vehicle impound unit LMPD has. His name was not immediately released. Officials said the westbound lanes are expected to be shut down for several hours, so motorists should seek an alternate route. The traffic and public integrity units are investigating. RESOURCE LINK with video LMPD tow truck driver's death on I-64 ruled accidental LOUISVILLE, Ky. — It appears the death of a Louisville Metro Police Department wrecker driver was an accident, according to a coroner's report. LMPD released more information Thursday about the death of Larry Kizer, who died while attempting to tow an abandoned truck on I-64 two days earlier. The 62-year-old was dispatched around 9:15 a.m. to the highway near Cannons Lane. Police said he was hooking up the vehicle when the tow truck began rolling backwards. He then became stuck underneath of the wrecker. Police said a good Samaritan stopped to render aid. He called police via his cellphone and by the radio in the tow truck. Kizer died at the scene, police said. The state medical examiner ruled the death an accident by mechanical asphyxia. Investigators say a key piece of information they are looking for is whether there were any mechanical defects that contributed to the incident. LMPD said there will be a full inspection of the wrecker on Friday. LMPD said Kizer had been with the department for 18 years. He was once nominated for LMPD Civilian of the Year. RESOURCE LINK with video

A tow truck driver in Anchorage, Alaska experienced a close call on Christmas day, December 25, when a swerving vehicle passed dangerously close to him as he inspected a disabled car on snowy Seward Highway. RESOURCE LINK

$500,000 of damage and four dogs died in McCandless Towing fire Penfield, PA – More information is being revealed about a fire that destroyed McCandless Towing near Penfield on Thursday morning, but the cause of the fire remains unknown. McCandless Towing, which is located on Hickory Road, near Route 255/Bennetts Valley Highway, caught fire around 5 a.m. Thursday. By the time fire crews arrived, the building was already fully involved and flames were through the roof of the garage. Fire departments worked together to make sure the fire didn’t spread. Chief Ray Himes of the Penfield Fire Department requested assistance from a PA State Police Fire Marshal in determining the origin and cause of a fire that destroyed a 60′ x 100′ garage belonging to 39-year-old Ryan McCandless from DuBois. The structure and contents were a complete loss. The fire was determined to have originated in the area of an oil furnace, but the cause was not determined. No one was injured, but four dogs perished as a result of the fire. The garage was used as storage for a number of vehicles, boats, and campers. Damage is estimated to be as much as $500,000. Photos are courtesy of North Point Volunteer Fire Company and Penfield Fire Rescue. RESOURCE LINK

Truck drives into neighbors house when no one was inside.

A crash on U.S. Highway 70 seriously injured one person and sent a tow truck into a building Friday morning. The State Highway Patrol said a pickup truck ran a stop sign in Princeton and clipped the tow truck. The pickup truck ran off the road and into a ditch. The driver was ejected from the pickup truck and was taken to WakeMed with serious injuries. The tow truck spun and slammed into J.A. Distributors, a gift shop. The driver of the tow truck was not injured. The building was deemed unsafe, the State Highway Patrol said. Lois Arthur works in the building and was running late. When she arrived at work at 8:15 a.m., she saw the tow truck in the building. “That is just the way the Lord works," Arthur said. "He makes you be late and makes you be early for whatever the reason may be.” RESOURCE LINK with video

Tow truck driver hit by car while helping motorists on the I-15 freeway in Victorville VICTORVILLE, Calif. (VVNG.com) — A tow truck driver helping a motorist that struck black ice on the I-15 freeway was struck by another vehicle early Friday morning. According to the California Highway Patrol incident logs, a two-vehicle crash was reported at 4:48 am on the northbound I-15 freeway at the E Street offramp in Victorville. The vehicles were reported as blocking the roadway. The E Street offramp was iced over with vehicles sliding and Caltrans was requested to respond and cinder the roadway, per the logs. An Air Expressway tow truck was dispatched to the call and as the driver was preparing to move the vehicle, a second vehicle lost control and struck the tow truck driver. The driver of the tow truck was transported by ground ambulance to an out of area trauma center. A second ambulance was requested for one of the other drivers who had a complaint of pain. CHP temporarily halted southbound traffic as they investigated the crash and cleared the roadway. An update on the condition of the tow truck driver was not immediately available. Additional information will be updated when it becomes available. RESOURCE LINK

On Dec. 18 around 2:40 a.m. a tow truck driver reported that a car collided with his tow truck. Investigating officers determined that the driver collided with a tree while crossing the median, crossed back and hit the tow truck. After field testing, the driver, a 34-year-old from Avon Lake was arrested on a drunk driving charge. There were no injuries as a result of the accident.

On December 12, Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Taylor Gagnon was responding to a call after a Subaru hit a deer near the intersection of Love Lane and Hulbert Road in Bozeman. Trooper Gagnon called for a tow truck to move the damaged Subaru and then waited in her patrol car while the tow truck driver worked on loading it up. “At this time, I looked in my rear-view mirror and I saw headlights that were not slowing down at all. And about two seconds later, the vehicle crashed into me,” she said. Trooper Gagnon and the tow-truck driver, who was inside of the Subaru during the collision, suffered no serious injuries. The driver of the truck that collided with both cars was also safe. Trooper Gagnon says she is amazed and grateful nobody was seriously injured. “In this job of first responder, or you know, even as tow truck drivers, we have to deal with the risks that come along with the job,” Gagnon said. When she reflects on that evening, she says wearing her seatbelt might have made all the difference. “I did put my seatbelt back on when I was back in the vehicle. The threat was gone and I think it’s always good to have your seatbelt on because you never know what traffic is going to do,” said Gagnon. This is just one of a number of trooper-involved incidents that have happened on Montana roads in recent months. Trooper Gagnon says drivers must be mindful of emergency responders on the road. “If it’s possible to change lanes, change lanes. But always proceed the emergency vehicles with caution and slow down if possible,” Gagnon said. MHP also wants to remind people to drive sober, slow down, and keep an eye out for changing road conditions while you’re traveling this holiday season. RESOURCE LINK with video

Tow truck crashes into woods off Route 3 in Duxbury DUXBURY, Mass. — An investigation was underway Christmas Day after a tow truck crash on Route 3 north before Exit 11. The crash happened around 1 a.m. Wednesday. Authorities said the vehicle wound up over the barrier and into the woods. There was no immediate word if anyone was hurt. RESOURCE LINK with video

According to the driver another vehicle ran the red light and hit his tow truck at about 40mph. Now he will be recovering from back and neck pain.

Police investigating string of early morning tow truck fires in North York, Richmond Hill No injuries have been reported following a string of suspicious tow truck fires in North York and York Region early this morning. The first fire was reported on Drewry Avenue, located near Bathurst Street and Finch Avenue, at around 3:34 a.m. Toronto Fire Services said crews were called to a home in the area and found a tow truck fully engulfed in flames. Fire crews were on the scene of a tow truck and house fire near Bathurst Street and Finch Avenue early Monday morning. The flames spread from the vehicle, which was parked next to a house, to a garage and the side of the residence. Firefighters have knocked down the blaze. The second fire was reported in the same area at around 3:46 a.m. A tow truck caught fire on Devondale Avenue and the flames have since been knocked down. Minutes later at around 3:50 a.m., a third tow truck fire was reported near Yonge Street and Finch Avenue. The home owner extinguished the fire before firefighters arrived on scene. Between 3:30 a.m. and 4 a.m., two other tow truck fires were reported in Richmond Hill, CP24 has confirmed. No injuries have been reported and it is not clear if the fires are connected. RESOURCE LINK with video Police investigate 5 tow truck fires in Toronto, York Region Toronto and York police are investigating at least five reports of tow trucks set on fire early Monday morning. Three of the tow trucks were torched in the area of Bathurst Street and Finch Avenue in North York. Toronto Fire said one of the fires spread to a home on Drewry Avenue. Nobody was home at the time and the fire has since been knocked down. Two of the other two truck fires were on Devondale and Connaught avenues. Fire crews in York Region also responded to tow truck fires in Richmond Hill. No injuries have been reported. RESOURCE LINK String of suspicious tow truck fires in North York and Richmond Hill TORONTO -- No injuries have been reported following a string of suspicious tow truck fires in North York and York Region early this morning. The first fire was reported on Drewry Avenue, located near Bathurst Street and Finch Avenue, at around 3:34 a.m. Toronto Fire Services said crews were called to a home in the area and found a tow truck fully engulfed in flames. The flames spread from the vehicle, which was parked next to a house, to a garage and the side of the residence. Firefighters have knocked down the blaze. The second fire was reported in the same area at around 3:46 a.m. A tow truck caught fire on Devondale Avenue and the flames have since been knocked down. Minutes later at around 3:50 a.m., a third tow truck fire was reported near Yonge Street and Finch Avenue. The home owner extinguished the fire before firefighters arrived on scene. Between 3:30 a.m. and 4 a.m., two other tow truck fires were reported in Richmond Hill, CP24 has confirmed. No injuries have been reported and it is not clear if the fires are connected. RESOURCE LINK Police investigating rash of tow truck fires across GTA over the weekend Police aren’t commenting on whether they suspect there’s an organized crime link to at least seven tow truck fires in the GTA over the weekend. Three of the fires took place in York Region, three in Toronto and one in Peel Region — just the latest incidents in a rash of violence involving the towing industry. People in the towing industry say things are getting more violent after a year already marred by arsons and shootings. “It seems to be escalating quite rapidly,” Mark Graves, president of the Provincial Towing Association, which has been calling for provincial standards to govern the industry, told the Star on Monday. “We all have concerns,” said Graves, whose association represents roughly 150 companies. “Everybody’s concerned about their own safety.” Graves said the violence is driving some ethical operators out of the business and preventing others from entering the industry. York Region police Insp. Christina Dawson declined to comment on whether the fires are considered to be related to organized crime. RESOURCE LINK

Dallas Police Ask for the Public’s Help to Identify Suspected Auto Thieves Police say a white tow truck stole a vehicle from South Cesar Chavez Boulevard on December 3 The Dallas Police Department is asking for the public's help identifying a suspect accused of auto theft. According to Dallas Police, an individual driving a White Ford tow truck stole a vehicle from 1110 South Cesar Chavez Boulevard on December 3rd. Police say they believe that individuals in a black Ford Escape and a white Chevrolet Tahoe served as "look outs" while helping the tow truck driver enter the property and take the vehicle. Police believe the tow truck may have been used in additional offenses, police said. Security footage shows that the tow truck does not appears to have markings displayed. Dallas police say that all tow trucks should have the company name, phone number, and address affixed to their truck, along with their identification number. Anyone with information related to this tow truck or suspects in this crime should call Detective J. Lopez at 214-671-3524 or email john.lopez@dallascityhall.com. RESOURCE LINK

Pennsylvania Towing Association Death Notification: To all of our friends and acquaintances in the towing industry. It is with deepest sadness that we must report that we have lost a true gentleman and professional in our industry today. Unfortunately, Pat Herring had lost his life in a tragic accident. We ask that you keep his family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. Pat was very active in the towing industry, he served as second vice-president for the Pennsylvania Towing Association for many years. He actively participated in many political meetings for our industry. He represented the towing industry as a true professional. He will be missed by so many who worked so closely with him. We will keep you updated as details come in. Update 12/20/19 - 2:45 PM Driver identified from fatal in Jefferson Township State police identified the man who was killed in a head-on collision in Jefferson Township Thursday. Pat Herring Sr., president of J E Herring Motor Co. of Somerset, died at the accident scene shortly after 10 a.m. at the intersection of Mount Zion Road and Glades Pike (Route 31), according to authorities. Herring was driving one of his semi-tractor tow trucks when the head on collision with a truck hauling logs occurred. State police did not have information on the driver of the log truck Friday morning. That section of Route 31 was closed for six hours Thursday. RESOURCE LINK Update 12/20/19 - 5:45 PM Services will be held at: Miller’s Funeral Home 555 Tayman Avenue, Somerset, PA 15501 814-445-6900 Viewing, Sunday – 2:00 PM till 8:00 PM Monday – 10:00 AM till 2:00 PM The Service will be held after the Monday 2:00 PM Viewing The services will be posted in the local newspaper, the Daily American, Click on obituaries The trucks used for the funeral possession will be staging at the Football Field parking lot located at Tayman Avenue & So. Franklin Avenue. Official Obituary Notification Pending Class of 2007 I.T.R.H.F.M. Inductee https://internationaltowingmuseum.org/hall_of_fame/pat-herring/

Taking a picture saves Martinsville tow truck driver from possible death MARTINSVILLE, Ind. -- A quick photo may be the reason a Morgan County tow truck driver is still on the roads helping people. Brian Wagaman was having a busy night during this week's snowstorm, but there is one call he may never forget. It happened on Highway 67 just outside of Centerton. Wagaman stopped to tow a vehicle out of a deep spin-off accident. Before getting out of the truck to help, he took a picture of the accident with his phone. He says he doesn't normally take pictures of accidents, but due to the nature of the spin-off, he took one for damage liability purposes. It's at that moment when a Jeep came spinning by the side of his truck. Had he stepped out to begin working, instead of taking the picture, he may not be alive. His dash cams caught all of the angles. “I had no idea how close I came to death until I played it back, and saw it with my own eyes," Wagaman said before motioning to a gold pin he got out of a car that was headed to a scrap yard, "I just got this guardian angel pin about two weeks ago. I picked it up, been with me ever since. I like to think that kind of helped me out." Wagaman says he was called to roughly 15 accidents over the course of the storm. He suggests people slow down, and stop using their phones, especially with slick roads. RESOURCE LINK with video

More than 20 tow trucks loaded load their cabs with donations for Toys for Tots to take to an event at Mimmo's Italian Restaurant in southwest Reading. RESOURCE LINK with video "also to be added to topic when available".

UPDATED 12.19.19 Paul Dakan was working at the impound lot Sunday for Elite Towing near 48th Avenue and Washington Street when police say Victor Arenas-Foote shot and killed him. RESOURCE LINK Friends Want Justice After Shooting Of Tow Truck Driver Paul Dakan DENVER, Colo., (CBS4) – Friends and family members are mourning the loss of a tow truck driver killed while doing his job over the weekend. According to the Office of the Medical Examiner, Paul Dakan, 36, died at the hospital after being shot at Elite Towing near 48th and Washington Street. Victor Arenas-Foote, 25, has been arrested in connection with the shooting and is being held for investigation of first degree murder, felony murder, and aggravated robbery. This is the Killer, the image supplied to the media by Denver Police.. This is the subjects photo from Victor Arenas-Foote Facebook Page "Access Here" On Monday, while Arenas-Foote appeared before a judge for the first time, dozens of Dakan’s friends and family members watched. Among them was Austin Carpenter, who met Dakan through work 6 and a half years ago, and considers himself a close friend. The two shared interests in cars, fish, and attending concerts. “Him and me were a little bit more on the rock and metal side of things,” said Carpenter. “It was such a spiritual experience for him.” On Sunday, Carpenter lost his friend and support system when someone shot and killed Dakan at work. According to the statement of probable cause, a witness said the shooter’s car had been impounded. Video from the scene showed a heavyset male walking with a 60-year-old woman in the tow yard. Police say Victor Arenas-Foote shot the victim, and he left with the woman in the impounded car — a red Toyota Corolla with the license plate ODL908 — without paying the $300 tow fee. Adams County deputies spotted the car near Northglenn Drive and Grant Street less than 20 minutes later. During a search, deputies found a .38 caliber semi-automatic handgun in Foote’s pocket. Video from the scene was also obtained. “If I hadn’t seen what I’ve seen, I don’t think I’d believe this was real yet,” said Carpenter. For Carpenter, and those close to Dakan, the goal moving forward is justice. That’s why they showed up to the courthouse on Monday, and why they plan to continue their support for Dakan throughout the judicial process. “We wanted to come out hard,” he said. “We want everybody involved in this to know that this isn’t OK and this guy uprooted and ended a lot more lives than just one when he did that.” The woman who was with Arenas-Foote was questioned by police. According to the statement of probable cause, she told officers she told Foote several times to let her out of the car but he refused, saying he was scared and didn’t know what to do. She has not been charged. Carpenter and other friends who spoke with CBS4 over the phone said they want police to reexamine her involvement. RESOURCE LINK Related News Story Updated: 11:39 AM, Dec 30, 2019 DENVER — A procession for a tow truck driver who was killed early in the morning on Dec. 15 winded its way from a park and ride to a church in Golden Monday morning. A representative with Western Towing said tow truck drivers organized a procession for Monday's funeral for Paul Dakan, 36, who was fatally shot on Dec. 15. Tow truck drivers started to gather at the Wooly Mammoth Park and Ride off I-70 and US 40 Monday morning. They left the parking lot at 9 a.m. and drove to St. Joseph Catholic Church in Golden for the funeral, which is open to the public. Early in the morning on Dec. 15 — around 3:20 a.m. — officers with the Denver Police Department responded to a shooting at 48th Avenue and Washington Street at a tow yard. The person who called 911 said they saw a heavyset Hispanic man shoot another person in the yard, according to court documents. The caller said the shooter's car had been impounded and the Hispanic man and an elderly female had left the area after the shooting in a red Toyota Corolla. When police arrived at the tow yard, they found the injured man, who was identified as Dakan. He was transported to the Denver Health, where he died of a gunshot wound a few hours later. At 3:40 a.m., about 20 minutes after the shooting, police located the Toyota Corolla and took two people into custody, according to court documents. One of them was identified as Victor Arenas-Foote, 26. A deputy with Adams County found a 38 caliber semi-automatic handgun in Arenas-Foote's pocket, according to court documents. After authorities talked with Arenas-Foote — details of the content of those conversations are redacted from a probable cause statement — he agreed to a voluntary blood draw at Denver Health. Authorities also talked with the elderly woman, who said Arenas-Foote told her he had a gun on him as they drove to the tow yard. She said Arenas-Foote has a drug problem and she is able to tell when he is high, but did not think he was on drugs as they drove to the yard, according to court documents. On Dec. 18, Arenas-Foote was charged with first-degree murder, felony murder and aggravated robbery. According to the Denver District Attorney's Office, Arenas-Foote allegedly shot Dakan in the back of the head. RESOURCE LINK with video