Tower Down - 11.06.21 (PA) "UPDATED 11.09.21"

[TowNews]

Tow truck driver fatally struck on I-80 last night

 

Clinton County, Pa. —State Police in Lamar reported the death of a tow truck driver after they were struck by a vehicle on Interstate 80 Saturday night.

 

According to the release, the tow truck driver was removing a disabled semi-trailer that was parked on the south berm. A vehicle then traveled off the south berm and struck the rear portion of the trailer.

Authorities said the tow truck driver was outside of their vehicle when the crash occurred. According to the report, the tow truck driver was fatally injured when struck.

 

Bystanders who witnessed the crash removed the driver from their vehicle after it caught fire due to the impact with the trailer. The driver was transported to Lock Haven Hospital where they received treatment for injuries.

 

Multiple fire companies and PennDot assisted with cleanup at the scene. State Police state an investigation is ongoing.

 

RESOURCE LINK

 

Owner of Centre Region towing company killed in Clinton County crash, police say

 

The owner of a Centre Region towing company was killed Saturday after he was hit by a driver in Clinton County, state police at Lamar and the Pennsylvania Towing Association wrote.

 

Valley Truck and Trailer owner James “Jim” Corl was hit about 9:30 p.m. Saturday when he was removing a disabled semitrailer from Interstate 80, police wrote.

 

A driver slammed their vehicle into Corl’s tow truck in the berm and burst into flames. Corl was outside his vehicle when it was hit, police wrote.

 

The driver was transported to UPMC Lock Haven for treatment of unspecified injuries, police wrote. An investigation is ongoing. Corl worked alongside the Alpha Fire Company for decades.

 

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Tow truck driver killed in I-80 crash identified

 

LOGANTON — The Pennsylvania Towing Association has identified the tow truck operator who was killed after being struck by a vehicle on Saturday night along Interstate 80 near Loganton.

 

James Corl, owner and operator of College Township-based Valley Truck and Trailer, was removing a disabled semi-trailer on I-80 near mile marker 184.9 at about 9:30 p.m. At that time, a driver traveling eastbound struck the tow truck from behind, according to state police at Lamar.

 

Corl was outside of the truck at the time and sustained fatal injuries, police said.

 

The vehicle caught on fire and the driver — who was not identified — was removed from the vehicle and taken to UPMC Lock Haven for treatment.

 

I-80 was closed at the Lock Haven exit for several hours. The investigation is ongoing, according to police.

 

Corl worked with Alpha and Boalsburg fire companies in State College for many years and both expressed condolences on social media on Sunday.

 

“Jim has served the Alpha Fire Company in a variety of ways over the past few decades, most recently as an Active Type IV (Support) member, supporting the company with apparatus needs as well as towing and recovery services,” Alpha Fire Company wrote in a Facebook post. “Jim will be greatly missed, and his family and friends are in our thoughts.”

 

In another Facebook post, the Boalsburg Fire Company said: “Our Thoughts and Prayers are with the Family of Jim Corl. Jim lost his life last evening in a vehicle related accident. Jim and his business, Valley Truck and Trailer have assisted us many times throughout the years providing heavy wrecker service to assist with vehicle accidents and rescues. Jim was known and will be missed by many.”

 

Pennsylvania’s Move Over Law requires drivers approaching emergency response areas who are unable to safely merge into a lane farther away from the response area to “pass the emergency response area at a speed of no more than 20 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit and reasonable for safely passing.”

 

Funeral arrangements for Corl have not been announced.

 

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[Stubborn66]

Prayers

 

 

[mooresbp]

Horrible, our thoughts and prayers