TowNews

MOUNT LAUREL - A tow-truck driver was struck Friday morning as he was loading a disabled vehicle onto his flatbed along the shoulder of Interstate 295, police said. The accident, reported at 8:21 a.m., occurred when a Ford E-350 box truck traveling in the right lane of northbound I-295 entered the shoulder, striking the driver and tow truck, said Trooper Alejandro Goez of the New Jersey State Police. The victim suffered "serious injuries and was taken by ambulance" to Cooper University Hospital in Camden, Goez said. The right lane of northbound I-295 in the area of the crash was closed during and after the morning rush hour as police investigated the accident. The Ford truck driver stayed at the scene of the accident, said Goez, who noted the investigation is ongoing. RESOURCE LINK

Wicked weather and wild wrecks From a media release: Battling massive mudslides, whiteout snowstorms, torrential rain, or dangerous rockslides, the highway heroes of Discovery’s most-watched original Canadian series HIGHWAY THRU HELL are set to return for Season 7 with an unprecedented 17 action-packed episodes, more than ever before! Airing Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT, beginning Sept. 4 on Discovery, Season 7 kicks off with an exclusive behind-the-scenes episode featuring heavy rescuer Jamie Davis alongside friendly competitors Al Quiring, Ken Duperon, and Jason Davis reflecting on epic recoveries and discussing the various ups and downs they face in one of Canada’s toughest industries. Following the premiere episode at 11 p.m. ET, viewers are invited to pose their questions to HIGHWAY THRU HELL star Jamie Davis in Discovery’s first-ever Facebook Live aftershow at Facebook.com/DiscoveryCanada. Featuring stories of remarkable strength and fearless dedication, HIGHWAY THRU HELL chronicles the lives of these heroic rescue teams who often put their own lives at risk to help keep vital transport highways open and communities safe. Dropping everything to respond, it is their duty to remove the often-dangerous cargo, clean up the twisted metal, clear the road, and get traffic rolling again for thousands of drivers. HIGHWAY THRU HELL Season 7 also sees Davis make a bold move, turning to vintage machinery to tackle modern-day wrecks. Davis’ team is not only tested by unforgiving weather conditions but also faced with the challenge of mastering old iron equipment to combat some of the most spectacular wrecks the crew has ever seen. Discovery primes viewers for the new season with a full-day marathon of HIGHWAY THRU HELL Season 6 on Saturday, Aug. 25 beginning at 3 p.m. ET. Season 6 is also currently available for streaming on the Discovery GO app, Discovery.ca, and CraveTV. HIGHWAY THRU HELL has consistently attracted impressive audiences, ranking as a Top 10 series on entertainment specialty television in Canada for total viewers and the A25-54 demographic. The series has made Discovery the most-watched entertainment specialty channel in its timeslot among total viewers as well as the A25-54 and A18-49 demographics. Toyota returns as the show’s exclusive automotive sponsor, featuring the capable, rugged, full-size Tundra pickup in HIGHWAY THRU HELL’s seventh season. About HIGHWAY THRU HELL Season 7: Jamie Davis is shifting gears once again. After years of keeping the highways open with some of the most modern heavy wreckers – the legendary tow man is staking his future on old iron equipment. At Davis’ yard in Hope, B.C., Classic Holmes tow trucks – some nearly half a century old – are slowly replacing newer, costlier wreckers. For Davis, the vintage trucks are more than just a passion – they represent survival. Under pressure to reduce costs and stay competitive, Davis is confident this winter he and his crew can tackle some of the toughest jobs – on and off the Coquihalla Highway – using an ageing, rebuilt fleet. This winter season, Davis is counting on one truck more than any other – the “Mighty Mo”. After rolling out of his garage at the end of last winter, the beautifully restored Holmes 850, named after a World War II battleship, is ready for war. Known as the most powerful tow truck of its day, the hulking 40-ton wrecker will need to shoulder the biggest jobs as Davis prepares to sell his last modern truck. After a challenging first winter working the mountain passes, former prairie operator Colin McLean is back in Hope for more adventures as Davis’ lead driver. But having run some of the best top-of-the-line hydraulic trucks, Davis’ “old iron” is going to take some getting used to. Each one-hour episode follows the Jamie Davis Motor Truck team as well as their competitors – Quiring Towing, Mission Towing, Aggressive Towing, and Reliable Towing – as they brave the harsh conditions of the Coquihalla Highway. Ready to navigate extreme roads and weather, each team prepares to put themselves on the line in order to keep some of the most economically important and travelled trucking routes in North America open and accessible for all. HIGHWAY THRU HELL is produced by Great Pacific Media in association with Discovery Canada. Executive Producer is Mark Miller. The series producer is Neil Thomas.

On May 17, 2018, the All American Auto Group purchased the Jerr-Dan dealership that was formerly Nussbaum Wreckers and Carriers of Hasbrouck Heights, N.J., creating All American Jerr-Dan. The acquisition consists of the distributorship of Jerr-Dan equipment, service, parts and accessories throughout their stores with Old Bridge being their primary location. All American Jerr-Dan will maintain their selection of heavy-duty wreckers, recovery vehicles, new and used carriers, over a million dollars of in-stock parts, and accessories. All American Auto Group is family-owned and operated by the Savino and the Selman families. The Group’s extensive portfolio consists of many manufacturer awards, including three of their stores ranking within the Top 100 Ford dealerships in the United States, the Ford President’s Award for Excellence in Customer Service for the last two consecutive years, Ford Credit Partners in Quality Award for Volume and Excellence in Customer Financing, and they continue to be within the Top 25 Ford Commercial Truck Sales Volume Dealers in the United States. RESOURCE Tow Times Industry News

A 41-year-old Ware man who was arrested Tuesday and charged with raping three women in Granby is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday at Eastern Hampshire District Court in Belchertown. Arthur Salsbury, of 48 Old Belchertown Road, was arrested by Granby police with assistance from Massachusetts State Police and Ware police, Granby Police Chief Alan Wishart said in a statement posted on the department's website. Wishart said the arrest followed tips his department received after issuing a call earlier this month for the public's help in identifying a tow truck and its operator who was suspected of an assault on March 29 in town. Salsbury was charged with seven crimes -- two counts of aggravated rape, three counts of rape and two counts of assault and battery. "These incidents are still actively being investigated and other charges may be filed in the future," Wishart said. RESOURCE LINK

A recovery worker died from a heart attack on a rescue in Somerset on Saturday A couple rented a Mercedes but needed help when the car got wedged in mud Coastguard and recovery service went to recover the car as the tide moved in But a medical emergency unfolded as the man collapsed with a heart attack A man died of a heart attack as he tried to rescue a Mercedes from a beach. The member of the rescue team was trying to move a hire (rental) car wedged in mud. The vehicle had been rented by a couple and become stranded at Burnham-on-Sea in Somerset. A Coastguard team and a local commercial vehicle recovery service were called out to recover the Mercedes on Saturday as the tide moved in. But coastguards say that 'a medical emergency unfolded in front of us' - as a man from the vehicle recovery service collapsed with a suspected heart attack. Despite quick action from three ambulance vehicles and an air ambulance, as well as an off-duty nurse, the man did not recover. Crews from Burnham Coastguard, Burnham Area Rescue Boat (BARB), and the vehicle recovery service were initially called to Brean beach in Somerset at 2pm on Saturday. The stricken couple in the Mercedes had got stuck in mud a fair way out on the beach, as the tide moved in fast and a thunderstorm rolled in over Somerset. The couple were found to be in no danger and were very apologetic. A spokesman for Burnham Coastguard said they, along with paramedics and an off-duty nurse, attempted to revive the man who suffered a heart attack, but were unsuccessful. The spokesman said: 'A person had collapsed with a suspected heart attack. The team mobilised quickly to the person and initiated CPR. Defibs were deployed from nearby including the Brean Beach wardens and from the National Trust Cafe. 'These were used along with chest compressions. An Ambulance First Responder arrived on scene and administered oxygen. 'Not long after the responder's arrival an ambulance and the Air Ambulance also arrived on scene. 'Despite the huge effort from everyone, including the off-duty nurse, an off-duty responder who stepped in, and the great work by the Brean Beach Wardens, the person didn't recover. 'Our thoughts are with family and all concerned. It's been a long, quite tough weekend for the team but as always we are here to help those who need it along the coast.' The Mercedes hire car was recovered from the beach on Sunday, after the BARB team decided they could not beat the tide in retrieving the car safely. RESOURCE LINK

A MAN has died after being crushed by a tow truck in a workplace incident at Dry Creek. The Advertiser understands the victim was operating a vehicle-loading truck when he was crushed between the cab and the trailer loading deck. Despite efforts of emergency services, the Golden Grove man, 64, sadly died at the scene. RESOURCE LINK ADDITIONAL VIDEO LINK