TowNews

Teen rushed to UPMC Altoona after tow truck crash on I-99 ALTOONA, Pa. (WTAJ) — A teen and his passenger were taken to UPMC Altoona after crashing into a tow truck that was responding to another crash on I-99, troopers say. A tow truck from Exclusive Towing was traveling in the left lane on I-99 northbound Wednesday, Dec. 28, and attempted to turn left to use a median crossover so they could respond to another crash, according to the report. A 17-year-old driver, who was traveling behind them near mile marker 34.7 between the 17th Street and Pinecroft exits, failed to brake for the tow truck and crashed into the back of it. The teen, from Beaver County, was rushed to UPMC Altoona with suspected serious injuries. The passenger, whose name and age were not released, was also taken to UPMC for suspected minor injuries. RESOURCE LINK

Penner International truck involved in icy wreck in Saskatchewan A driver from Penner International was involved in a wreck Tuesday evening on the icy roads west of Swift Current. Swift Current Rural RCMP responded to the call along the Trans Canada Highway, near Beverley, at approximately 7:05 pm. Police arrived on scene to find a damaged tow truck and two damaged semi-trucks, including one from Penner International. At the time of the incident, the heavy wrecker, belonging to Low Cost Towing of Swift Current, was hooked to the front of the semi unit via winch lines and was attempting to winch it out. The operator of the tow truck was underneath the winched semi unit repairing an air leak. A second semi-truck, a tractor-trailer unit, collided with the semi in the ditch and the tow truck, causing extensive damage to the wrecker and pushing the semi-truck the tow truck operator was working on, into the wrecker. As a result of the crash, three people were taken to hospital: the tow truck operator with injuries described as non-life-threatening; a passenger in the stuck semi with injuries described as serious but non-life-threatening; and the driver of the stuck semi, as a precaution. In a statement from Low Cost Towing of Swift Current, Owner Cindy Remple, said that after the incident, the operator immediately went to check on other individuals involved in the crash while another motorist on the highway that witnessed the accident called emergency services. "Our operator was taken to the hospital to get checked over and has been released and is at home with his family," she states. "He is scraped up pretty good and is very sore and bruised but will recover." In Saskatchewan, the law states that drivers must slow to 60 kilometres per hour when passing a tow truck or service vehicle stopped on the roadside with its amber or amber and blue lights flashing while it is rendering assistance to a disabled vehicle, unless the truck is on the opposite side of a divided highway. The extreme weather conditions at the time of the collision led to treacherous road conditions and many road closures. "The highways were extremely icy at the time of the accident and all drivers should have adjusted speed due to poor conditions, but it was witnessed that the semi unit that struck our wrecker was not slowing and had just previously passed other trucks," Remple notes in the statement. The collision is still under investigation by the Swift Current Rural RCMP. RESOURCE LINK

Roadside assistance worker sent himself nude photos from woman’s phone in Lake County, prosecutors say Prosecutors say that a AAA roadside assistance worker sent himself nude photos from the phone of a woman whose car had broken down in Lake County. Lake and McHenry County Scanner is withholding the name of the worker, a 22-year-old Wheeling man, because the case has since been dropped against him. Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Emma Smoler said that a woman called AAA on December 21 for a flat tire. The 22-year-old man, who works for AAA, came out and determined the woman’s car needed to be towed. The woman’s phone was out of battery and the cigarette lighter in the woman’s car was broken, Smoler said during a bond hearing. The worker agreed to charge the woman’s phone for her while they waited for the tow truck. Smoler said the worker sat in his AAA truck and plugged the victim’s phone into the charger while the victim sat inside her car. The worker told the woman he had to leave approximately 30 minutes later and gave her the phone back. The victim noticed that messages had been sent from her phone to a number that she did not recognize. The messages included 20 nude photos that the woman had of herself on her phone, Smoler said. She called the unknown number and the worker answered. She then called the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. The worker came back to the scene with his boss while deputies were at the scene with the woman. The worker gave police permission to look through his phone, at which point they found deleted messages with the nude photos of the victim. Smoler said the worker told deputies his phone was synced to the car and those specific images “somehow” got sent to his phone. The victim and the worker do not know each other and she did not give the man consent to go through her phone, Smoler said. The worker was charged with one count of non-consensual dissemination of a sexual image, which is a Class 4 felony. A judge allowed the worker to be released from custody on a personal recognizance bond. Prosecutors, the same day the charges were filed, dismissed the case for unknown reasons. RESOURCE LINK

Shooting reported Monday morning on Detroit’s east side An armed man was killed after he tried to rob a tow truck driver who had a concealed pistol license, according to the Detroit Police Department. The incident happened at about 9:30 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 26, in the 15400 block of Young Street. Police say the armed man tried to rob the tow truck driver, but the tow truck driver had a CPL, was armed and shot the man. The man was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. According to police, the incident remains under investigation.

Funeral service held for Columbus tow truck driver killed on the job COLUMBUS, Ga. (WTVM) - A local truck driver killed on the job is finally laid to rest. But, tonight, his loved ones are encouraging those driving this holiday season to be mindful of Move Over laws. It was a room full of Jonathan Begley’s loved ones gathered this evening at the Double Tree by Hilton hotel. Though he had not worked as a trucker for long, several other truckers and first responders still showed up to support their fellow first responders. “Move over. Slow down. You don’t know whose life you’re going to take,” said Ruthie Begley, pleading with Georgians to be cautious while driving during Christmas and New Year’s. Her son, Jonathan, was killed right before the holidays. “His brother and sister, they’re really taking it hard. They just don’t know what to do anymore because that was their baby brother,” said Ruthie. The 41-year-old Columbus truck driver was killed on the job nearly three weeks ago. Authorities say the deadly accident happened near the Veterans Parkway exit on J.R. Allen Parkway. At the time, Begley was loading a Georgia State Patrol car when another driver hit and killed him. Before his funeral Wednesday, the procession was led by deputies from the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia State Patrol, and Columbus police. It included several truck drivers from various local companies as they left the Columbus Civic Center. His memorial was held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel. “We’re out here to really support the one last ride and lay our brother to rest, Jonathan Begley and really show our support to the family and really show what he meant to us,” said Chuck Griffin, who hired Jonathan at Griffin and Griffin Towing. “He was an outspoken person. He was loving. He was caring. And anything we would ask him to help us do, he did it,” said his co-worker, Danny Williams. During the service, State Representative Elect Teddy Reese presented Jonathan’s family with a proclamation on behalf of Mayor Skip Henderson. His employer, Griffin and Griffin Towing Company gave them a plaque and bought Christmas gifts for his children. One of his co-workers fought tears while remembering their final moments. “If you have someone that you love that you have not told that you love them, please reach out and do it ‘cus I lost a best friend,” said another co-worker, Chester Grantham. According to AAA, Jonathan’s former boss encourages drivers to slow down, with one tow truck driver killed every other week. “While we’re out here celebrating Christmas with our loved ones, just remember us. We’re out here to help, but we want to get home just like the next people,” Griffin adds. Authorities say the driver of the vehicle that hit Begley did stay at the scene. That individual’s identity and whether or not they’ll face any charges has not been released. But, Georgia State Patrol is continuing to investigate. RESOURCE LINK

Tow truck driver dies after vehicle overturns in Sligoville Radio Jamaica News has been informed that the driver of a tow truck died this afternoon during a motor vehicle mishap along the Sligoville main road in St. Catherine. It's reported that sometime after 2 o'clock the driver was travelling along the main road when he lost control of the truck which overturned into a precipice. Up to late Wednesday afternoon, police were on the scene trying to retrieve the body of the driver. RESOURCE LINK

1-year-old killed in crash with tow truck DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) – A child was killed Monday after the car they were in collided with a tow truck on its way to another crash, authorities said. According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, crews responded to a collision on I-75 by Northwoods Avenue in Tipp City. A tow truck on its way to the scene slowed down, but the car behind it did not react in time and crashed into the back of the truck, OSP said. 2 NEWS crews on the scene said the car flipped over, landing against the median by the ramp from I-70. The collision killed the car’s passenger, a 1-year-old boy. The driver was taken to Miami Valley hospital in unknown condition. RESOURCE LINK

LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. (WHP) — Manheim Township Police Department say that a man is on the loose after running over someone with a car he stole from a local impound lot. Officials say they were first dispatched to the scene at around 11:36 a.m. at Absolute Towing for a victim that had been hit by a blue sedan. When they arrived on scene, officers were told that 30-year-old Joshua Shannon had been caught on surveillance cameras allegedly taking his friend's blue Subaru Impeza back from the lot, driving around the tow truck in front of the gate. After doing so, police say that Shannon had then struck the gate, knocking over someone in the process before his escape. While he fled the scene, authorities say that Shannon also ran over this person, causing a severe broken leg injury as well as lower body injuries. Officers allege that Shannon had stolen the vehicle due to not wanting to pay to get the car out of Absolute Towing's lot. The business is estimated to have lost $295. Police say that Shannon currently remains a wanted man and that anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact Manheim Township Police Department at 717-569-640 or submit an anonymous tip here. Shannon is now facing aggravated assault, accidental death or personal injury, and theft of services charges. RESOURCE LINK

MIAMI – A person is a dead after a fiery overnight crash in Miami. The accident happened in the 1700 block of SW 22 Avenue just after midnight. It's unknown what caused the crash, but one of the two vehicles involved slammed into a power pole. "Wake up in the back of the room, lights shorted out," recalled one witness. "In the middle of it I just heard a massive crash and went down the road and a massive fire." Another witness said the flames completely engulfed one car, so officers ran to rescue the tow truck driver involved in the crash. She said the tow truck driver looked "confused," but couldn't definitively say what was wrong with him. The road had to be closed for hours as police gathered evidence and cleared up the scene. RESOURCE LINK

GOLDTHWAITE, Texas (KWTX) - The Texas Department of Public Safety is investigating a hit-and-run that left a tow truck driver dead in Mills County. Troopers responded to the crash at 6:09 p.m. Dec. 10 on US 183 near Goldthwaite where the victim was loading and securing a vehicle onto his tow truck. According to authorities, an unknown pickup truck failed to move over or slow down and struck the victim causing the truck to sustain damage and failed to stop and render aid. Patrick Morin, 61, was pronounced dead on the scene by Justice of the Peace, Kim Avants. Next of kin notification has been made. The suspected vehicle is believed to be a 2011 to 2015 metallic brown Toyota Tundra 4X4 pick-up truck. “Evidence left at the scene shows that the vehicle had aftermarket fender flares that were painted to match, as well as factory trailer tow mirrors,” said Sergeant Bryan Washko, spokesman for Texas DPS. “The suspect vehicle is missing the right front fender flare and right trailer towing mirror.” The crash investigation is active and open. Anyone with information about this crash please contact DPS Waco Communications at 254-759-7131. RESOURCE LINK Texas DPS arrest suspect in fatal hit-and-run crash in Mills County Police have recovered a 2014 Toyota Tundra that was allegedly involved in the crash. GOLDTHWAITE, Texas (KWTX) - The Texas Department of Public Safety has arrested the driver of the Toyota Tundra involved in the hit-and-run death of Patrick Morin, 61. Kerry Coats “KC” Kavanaugh, 38, has been charged with fail to stop and render aid (resulting in death) and is being held at the Mills County Jail. Police have recovered a 2014 Toyota Tundra that was allegedly involved in the crash. RESOURCE LINK From the wife of Patrick Morin. Mitzi Morin released this information. *Update-Patrick’s celebration of life will be Thursday, Dec 15th at 3pm at Grace Fellowship in Lampasas. There will be a light meal served afterwards. *Flowers are welcome, as well as donations made in Patrick’s memory to the Buchanan Dam VFD and the Hill Country 100 Club. Friends and family, it is with indescribable sadness that we share the news that Patrick was killed yesterday evening in a hit and run accident. We are still awaiting news and details of everything that happened, and when a memorial service will be. Please pray specifically for Mitzi and Patrick’s family. Pray that God will fill their heartache and numbness with his peace, love and comfort. I will link to a memorial page that will have information to come regarding his service. https://everloved.com/life-of/patrick-morin UPDATED 12.16.22 Tow trucking community mourns loss of Patrick Morin with motorcade in Lampasas A day at work turned into to tragedy. Sixty-one-year-old Patrick Morin was just doing his job last weekend, loading and securing a vehicle on his tow truck on US 183 when another truck crashed into him leaving the scene. “It was just horrible to hear,” said Morin’s friend Brad Cook. Morin died from his injuries. “He’s a big part of our daily lives. It was devastating,” said Morin’s friend Charli Grady. Morin owned his mechanic and towing business for around 30 years in Lampasas. Several residents say Morin was beloved in his community. “Everybody knew him and he is originally from Lampasas. He had people here. He was just always going,” said Cook. “He was always out ready to lend a helping hand. In times it mattered most, he was there asking to help. Whatever you need he was a phone call away,” said Grady. Dozens of fellow tow truck drivers from near and far lined up their rigs during Morin’s memorial service Thursday to pay their respects. According to DPS, the pickup driver who hit Morin “failed to move over or slow down and struck Morin." Morin was the 47th roadside worker hit and killed this year in the Lone Star State. Texas leads the nation in roadside worker deaths this year. “The slow down move over law, too many people do not adhere to it. Unfortunately, our friend paid the ultimate price,” said Ron Crofoot, a friend of Morin who used to work for him. The family and the tow truck community hope people remember Morin anytime they see an operator on the side of the road. “This is important, to move over for the tow trucks and any road workers as it is for the police officers that are out doing their jobs as well,” said Grady. “Even somebody that broke down on the side of the road. It is not just for a certain group of people. If someone is on the side of the road just give us the space to do what they got to do,” said Cook. RESOURCE LINK UPDATED 01.05.23 Family of tow truck driver killed in hit-and-run asking Texans to be cautious: ‘slow down, move over’ BUCHANAN DAM, Texas (KWTX) - It’s been nearly one month since Patrick Morin was killed in a hit and run accident in Mills county. “How much time is it going to add to your trip if you just slow down and move over?” Asked Patrick’s wife, Mitzi Morin. That’s what the Morin family wants to know after their beloved husband and father was killed in a hit and run, on Dec. 10, 2022. “No one wants to see officers show up at your door. When they did, as best I can recall, my words were ‘this is not good’,” said Mitzi. “By not putting on a seatbelt you’re playing with your own life. When you go by somebody on the side of the road you’re playing with somebody else’s life at that point,” said Patrick’s son Kristopher Morin. “It just really upsets me that there’s not respect or they’re not following the law. I do see it as a lack of respect for life,” said Mitzi Morin. Since the accident, groups like the highway angels have given the Morin family an unwavering amount of support. Now, the family is working to protect the safety of other tow truck drivers as a part of Patrick’s legacy. “It’s important to honor Patrick by trying to save someone else’s life,” said Mitzi. Along with Kristopher, Patrick is survived by his daughter, Bethany. Kristopher and Mitzi don’t think the penalties for such actions are strict enough. RESOURCE LINK with video

Tow truck driver injured after bullet strikes windshield on I-37, San Antonio police says The shooting happened around 11:40 a.m. Sunday on I-37. SAN ANTONIO – A tow truck driver was injured after a bullet struck his windshield on the highway, according to San Antonio police. The shooting happened around 11:40 a.m. Sunday on I-37. Police said the driver was on his way to help at a crash when a bullet hit his windshield. He then pulled over on East Southcross and South New Braunfels Avenue to ask for help as he could not see due to glass injuries. Officers at the scene said the glass from the windshield had cut the driver. Once located, the suspect will be charged with Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon. This is an ongoing investigation. RESOURCE LINK

Tow Truck drivers gather in Muskogee to honor life of John Mills and push for change MUSKOGEE, Okla. — An urgent plea from the owners of Oklahoma tow truck companies just six days after Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) says John Mills was killed after being struck by a vehicle while assisting a stranded motorist by trying to load their car onto his wrecker parked on the shoulder of US-69 just south of Wagoner Saturday night. The memorial service for the 31-year-old tow truck operator will be held at Trinity Baptist Church in Muskogee on Saturday at 2 p.m., followed by a final run back to the yard at Red Beard’s Towing main location at 2781 W. Peak Boulevard. There will be signage posted on the wreckers reminding Oklahoma drivers to move over. https://www.fox23.com/news/tow-truck-drivers-gather-muskogee-honor-life-john-mills-push-change/PJ2GSTWJUBG6HFNE4UGIP67LSI/

Tow truck driver killed on JR Allen Pkwy in Columbus COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) — A tow truck driver tragically died after being struck by a vehicle on an entrance ramp to JR Allen Parkway from Moon Road Friday night. The deceased was hit while he was in the process of loading up a State Trooper’s vehicle that had broke down. The tow truck driver was pronounced dead at 10:49 p.m. Friday night. Stick with News 3 for additional updates.

11-year-old killed in crash on Route 8 in Brookfield BROOKFIELD, N.Y. – New York State Police say 11-year-old Nelson Padilla, from Pennsylvania, was killed in a crash in Brookfield Monday evening after the vehicle he was in collided with a flatbed tow truck on State Route 8. The boy’s father, 29-year-old Abner Padilla, of Utica, was driving south on Route 8 when police say he hit the flatbed truck, which was partially parked in the roadway with caution lights on. State police said Nelson was ejected during the crash and pronounced dead at the scene. Abner and his other 9-year-old child, who was also in the back seat, were not injured. Both children were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash. Police say Abner did not have a valid license and has an arrest warrant for an aggravated unlicensed operation charge out of Suffolk County. However, the warrant cannot be executed outside the county, so Abner was not arrested at the scene. RESOURCE LINK The investigation is ongoing.

Huron County man sentenced to prison in Ohio Turnpike traffic crash that left two dead A 33-year-old Bellvue man was sentenced to a minimum of 12 years in prison in connection to a traffic collision that left two men dead in 2020. Zachary Santoro, of 1021 E. Main St. in Huron County, was sentenced by Lorain County Common Pleas Judge Mark Betleski on Nov. 21 to prison, but he could get three years added to his sentence if he doesn’t comply with orders while in the prison, said a court spokesperson. Santoro was impaired and later charged as such when the vehicle he was driving crashed into Darren Hebner and Eric Ackerman on July 21, 2020, on the Ohio Turnpike, the spokesperson said. Ackerman was operating a tow truck to assist Hebner when the wreck occurred. RESOURCE LINK

It's not just First Responders and Tow Truck Operators. The Move Over Laws should include disabled vehicles otherwise the message is not as strong. Problem is there are so many abandoned vehicles on the Interstates and Highways. If motorist would just slow down if they are unable to move over. Norah's Law seeks to expand Indiana’s move-over laws to include all disabled vehicles stopped on an emergency berm, not just emergency vehicles. Norah’s law is a proposed law that is long overdue. Norah's legacy will live on and she will save the life of the next Norah Owens. We aim to get Indiana lawmakers to adopt the same bill passed in Maryland that went into effect on October 1, 2022: Beginning October 1, 2022, the Move Over Law in Maryland was expanded to require motorists to make a lane change or slow down when approaching any stopped, standing, or parked vehicle displaying warning signals – including hazard warning lights, road flares, or other caution signals including traffic cones, caution signs, or non-vehicular warning signs. The expanded law is in place to protect law enforcement, emergency responders, and any motorist that may encounter a roadside emergency and must stop near travel lanes. Visit Norahslaw.com to learn more.

Webster Parish tow truck driver saves woman stuck in burning car; sheriff gives him special life-saving award WEBSTER PARISH, La. (KSLA) - A tow truck driver in Webster Parish received a special award from the sheriff for saving a woman’s life. On Monday, Nov. 14, Sheriff Jason Parker awarded Andrew Lincoln with a special life-saving award for his heroic actions involving a car crash victim on Oct. 9. On that day, Lincoln, who works for Harmons Towing and Recovery, was headed from Sibley to Haughton on Highway 164 on a towing call when he noticed a wrecked vehicle on the side of the road. As he got closer to the wreck, he was flames coming from the car. He stopped his truck and yelled, “Is someone in the car?” Another man who had stopped told him there was someone inside, but that the door was jammed. Lincoln sprang into action. He parked his truck in the middle of the highway, turned on his emergency flashers, and rushed to help the person trapped inside. He was able to get the passenger door open and tried to pull the woman out, but she was still stuck. Meanwhile, the flames were getting bigger. At this point, Lincoln says the smoke was so thick, he could barely see. He says he could also feel his pants beginning to melt because of the heat. Lincoln says he took off his shirt, wrapped it under her arms, and pulled her out of the car. Within minutes after pulling her out, the car was completely engulfed in fire. The sheriff’s office says Lincoln has worked in the towing industry his whole life. RESOURCE LINK

Maryland State Police Release Video of Shooting: Maryland State Police released video of a road-rage shooting from March in which a tow truck driver was killed in an effort to find the gunman. Delonte Hicks, 29, of Washington, D.C., was shot on March 19 while traveling east on U.S. Route 50 at Veterans Parkway in Prince George's County, police said. Police said investigators believe Hicks was exchanging words with the driver of a black car. The other driver pulled out a weapon and fired into the vehicle, striking Hicks, who died. The gunman continued east on Route 50. Investigators on Monday released video from a camera that was mounted inside the tow truck. WATCH: Can you identify this person: