Tower Down - 07.15.21 (OK) "Updated 10.21.21"

[TowNews]

OHP: Man Killed After Being Hit By Car On Turner Turnpike

 

 

CREEK COUNTY, Oklahoma - The Oklahoma Highway Patrol has identified a man who was killed after being hit by a car on the Turner Turnpike near Kellyville late Friday night.

 

According to OHP, 44-year old Donovan Knippenburg was hit by a car eastbound on the Turner Turnpike around 11:07 p.m. on Friday and pronounced dead on the scene by first responders.

 

It is currently unclear what lead to the accident.

 

RESOURCE LINK

 

 

Oklahoma Wrecker Owners Association released this statement 07.17.21

 

These posts are the hardest. Oklahoma Towers have lost a Tow Operator. Below is a message we received this morning from AWOW Towing in Tulsa, OK:

 

Just wanted to let you know we lost a driver early this morning. He was hit and killed on I-44. We were gonna give him a last right but see if you let the people know. I will update with funeral arrangements. He was with AWOW Towing and St Micheals.

 

Please pray for his family. We will post funeral arrangements and more info as we receive it.

 

Rest In Peace Donovan Knippenburg

 

Todd Leiss Posted:

Tow Truck Operator Donovan Knippenburg, of A Wow Towing, Oklahoma becomes United States Emergency Responder Struck-By Death #31 of 2021.

 

31 Emergency Responders struck & killed in the first 198 days of 2021

12 - Tow Truck Operators

16 - Law Enforcement Officers

2 - Fire/EMS

1 - Safety Service Patrol Operators

SLOW DOWN AND MOVE OVER for Emergency Responders.

 

National Struck-By Heroes

PennTIME - Pennsylvania Statewide Traffic Incident Management Group

Move Over Pennsylvania

 

 

 

SPERRY, Oklahoma - Friends and coworkers are heartbroken after a tow truck driver was hit and killed while working on the side of the Turner Turnpike. 

 

They say Donovan Knippenburg was an incredible man, and they wish people understood the dangers of the job. Valarie Hinshaw says it's hard to put into words what Donovan Knippenburg meant to her, but she will make sure he is remembered.

 

Knippenburg worked for Valarie Hinshaw at A-WOW Recovery and Towing for almost seven years.

 

"He'd do anything for anybody, give the shirt off his back," she said. 

 

Oklahoma Highway Patrol says Donovan was hit and killed late Friday night on the Turner Turnpike near Kellyville. Valarie says he was out of his truck and working to move a car off the turnpike when he was hit.

"When our lights are on, we're there to get the vehicle out of the way, and to open the roadway, so we are considered first responders," Hinshaw said. 

 

She says her team is heartbroken Donovan is gone, and he's going to be missed.

 

Valarie says he was a one-of-a-kind personality, who was always making people laugh.

 

She says wreckers risk their lives every time they respond to a call.

 

"When you lose someone close on our team, it really hits home, and it makes me think and I see people on the roadway, and I want to tell them, whoa move over, even if I'm just passing another wrecker, I'm moving over," she said. 

 

She says she feels hopeless when she sees people who break the law by not moving over when a wrecker is on the side of the road.

 

She wants people to realize how much Donovan's loss has hurt them and his family. 

 

"No one will ever understand the importance of moving over I guess until it hits them personally," she said. 

Oklahoma Highway Patrol says the cause of the crash is under investigation.

 

RESOURCE LINK with video

 

Family Hopes For Answers 3 Months After Father Killed While Towing Truck On Turnpike

 

 

The family of a tow truck driver who was hit and killed while working on the Creek Turnpike in July said they are still in shock.

 

Hailey and Cale Knippenburg say their dad, Donovan Knippenburg, was a man who was always there when you needed him, especially to crack a joke or to make you smile. 

 

"He would do anything to make someone laugh, even if it was something stupid, he always wanted to make people laugh," Hailey said. 

 

Oklahoma Highway Patrol said Donovan was hit and killed on July 16th when he was loading a car on the Creek Turnpike near Kellyville. 

 

"We've already been through, I mean it's only been three months and we've already been through a lot of stuff that he should have been there for, there's so many things I should have called him for and he's not there," Hailey said. 

 

Hailey said she wishes more people would move over when you see someone working on the side of the road, no matter who it is. 

 

"You know you pull over for an officer because you're scared they'll pull you over if you don't, but it's still important,” Hailey said. “It's a valued life no matter what.” 

 

Hailey said the last three months have been hard, and they are waiting and hoping for answers on what exactly happened, especially as her dad's birthday is less than a month away. 

 

"I think it's hard going into his birthday knowing there's not going to be any answers or closure anytime soon," she said. 

 

The cause of the crash is still under investigation. 

 

RESOURCE LINK with video

[mooresbp]

Our thoughts and prayers

[Moose]

Thought's and Prayer's, have not seen as many details as released in other Tower Down reports.

[Matthew Murphy]

Praying for family and friends. 

[TowNews]

UPDATED - https://www.news9.com/story/60f60afcb3756d0bd9fd3e99/tow-truck-driver-hit-and-killed-while-working-on-turner-turnpike

[T69]

Donovan was killed on 7-16-21, yet as of this date, no one has been held accountable for hitting & killing him! I am outraged by this injustice & grief-stricken for his family & friends.

[TowZone]