Tower Down - 02.12.22 (NJ) "Updated 03.01.22"

[TowNews]

HORRIFIC ROUTE 3 CRASH: Tow Truck Driver Struck, Critically Injured Clearing Highway

 

UPDATE: A tow truck driver was fighting for his life after he was gravely injured by an out-of-control vehicle while responding to a previous accident on Route 3 in Rutherford, authorities said.

 

Police had closed down several lanes and the shoulder while placing their vehicles and cones behind the initial two-car crash scene on the westbound highway near Park Avenue -- west of Route 17 and east of the Passaic River -- around 9:45 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, Police Chief John Russo said.

 

Robert Thornton, 31, of Nick's Towing Service in Rutherford, had one of the vehicles on the flatbed and was preparing the second when a three-vehicle crash occurred behind the police about 45 minutes later, Russo said.

One vehicle hit another, spinning it out, then barreled "straight down the shoulder," nearly hitting several officers, as well as occupants from the first crash and marked police units, the chief said.

 

It then struck the car that Thornton was working on, he said.

 

Officers freed him from under the vehicle and rendered aid, Russo said.

 

Thornton, a former firefighter who lives in Ridgefield Park and volunteers with the Moonachie First Aid & Rescue Squad, was taken to Hackensack University Medical Center.

 

"Everybody did everything right," Russo said. "The highway was shut down. Vehicles and cones were used to block the area. There were emergency lights on. Everyone had on their vests. It's terrible."

 

The driver in the second crash was hospitalized, as was a pregnant occupant of the first car she hit and an occupant involved in the first accident, Russo said. None of their injuries were considered life-threatening, he said.

 

Detectives investigating the crashes include an officer of Russo's who's a member of the Bergen County Prosecutor's Fatal Accident Investigations Unit. Interviews were being conducted over the next several days, the chief said.

 

"At the moment, it doesn't appear criminal," he said.

 

Russo thanked Nick’s Towing Service, the Rutherford Ambulance Corps and several other BLS units that responded, as well as the Bergen County Sheriff's Bureau of Criminal Identification, which collected evidence, firefighters from Rutherford, police from Lyndhurst and East Rutherford and the New Jersey Department of Transportation "for their assistance throughout the night."

 

Resource Link

 

Tow truck driver struck by vehicle at highway crash scene, cops say

 

A tow driver was seriously injured Saturday night when he was struck by a vehicle at a Route 3 crash scene where he was working on a damaged vehicle, Rutherford police said.

 

The incident occurred at 10:30 p.m. on a westbound stretch of the highway at mile marker 5.2, police said.

The victim, from Nick’s Towing Service in Rutherford, had been called to a 9:45 p.m. crash in which two vehicles were damaged to the point they needed to be towed. Two passengers suffered minor injuries in that crash that required ambulance crews to respond to the scene, police said.

 

As police, fire and EMS personnel were on scene, at about 10:30 p.m., another crash occurred behind them and among three vehicles - one which careened into the rear of one of the vehicles from the first crash scene. The tow truck driver was struck while standing in front of the disabled vehicle.

 

The tow driver suffered severe injuries and was promptly treated on scene and taken to Hackensack University Medical Center by a Rutherford ambulance and Hackensack University medics, police said.

 

“Although the investigation will be ongoing for the next few days, there is nothing at this point of the investigation that points to any criminality,” rutherford police said in a statement Sunday.

 

The Lyndhurst, East Rutherford police departments and the Bergen County Sheriff’s Department assisted at the scene.

 

Resource Link

[TowNews]

Rutherford Police Department:

 

Carstadt Police:

Sadly, today we report that tragedy has struck our extended family. A driver from Nick's Towing Service, Inc. was struck last night while in the course of their duties. He is in extremely critical condition as of the last update.

 

Most of you already know how much love and support our communities receive from Nick’s Towing. More importantly the support our emergency services receives from them is second to none. They are always willing to help anyone in need. You may be aware of their selfless acts of kindness to stranded motorists and even their acts of heroism as they come upon motor vehicle crashes and other emergencies while in the course of their normal duties. We are asking you to keep them in your thoughts and prayers, hoping for the best!

[mooresbp]

Our thoughts and prayers go out

[TowForce]

From Nick’s Towing Service, Inc

 

A member of our Nick’s Towing Service family, operator Rob Thornton, was struck by an out of control vehicle late Saturday night, February 12th. Rob was safely performing his duties, tending to an accident loading a car on the shoulder of the road. The Rutherford Police Department had shut down several lanes and the shoulder while placing their vehicles and cones behind the initial two-car crash scene in the Westbound lanes of Route 3. A secondary accident occurred behind the original accident scene, and one of those vehicles barreled uncontrolled through the safety area the RPD set up and struck Rob.

We are asking all our friends, customers, and the community to please pray for Rob. He remains in extremely critical condition in the Intensive Care Unit at the hospital.

A Go Fund Me account has been set up through the Moonachie EMS, of which Rob is a member:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/s862f-medical-bills-for-rob

[TowZone]

Flag Ceremony Set At Hospital For NJ Tow Truck Driver, First Responder Coming Off Life Support

 

 

A tow truck-driving first responder from Bergen County who was gravely injured while on a call two weeks ago will be removed from life support following a flag-raising ceremony scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 27.

 

Family members of Robert Thornton, 31, said there will be no limit on the number of attendees during the ceremony outside the front of Hackensack University Medical Center. 

 

Anyone who wants to say something in his honor will be welcome, they said.

 

Thornton, who rode with the Moonachie First Aid & Rescue Squad and worked for Nick's Towing Service, will then be removed from life support and have his organs harvested.

 

"Another one of my family had been taken before their time. It's a big loss to all of us," Moonachie First Aid & Rescue Squad Capt. Franklin Smith said.

 

"Volunteers in general are a dying breed," Smith said. "Our families are tight. We fight, we laugh, we cry, we do a special job together. Not for payment, or for praise, but because we were born to help others. "This will be another great loss to our community and our family." 

 

Thornton, whose parents are deceased, had been living with his elderly grandmother in Ridgefield Park.

 

He was clearing an accident scene for Nick's when he was struck by an out-of-control vehicle on westbound Route 3 in Rutherford around 10:30 p.m. Feb. 13.

 

HORRIFIC ROUTE 3 CRASH: Tow Truck Driver Struck, Critically Injured Clearing Highway

 

Police had closed down several lanes, placing their vehicles and cones behind the initial two-car crash scene near Park Avenue between Route 17 and the Passaic River, Rutherford Police Chief John Russo said.

 

Thornton had one of the vehicles on the flatbed and was preparing the second when a three-vehicle crash occurred behind the police closure, Russo said.

 

One vehicle hit another, spinning it out, the chief said.

 

The first vehicle then barreled "straight down the shoulder," nearly hitting several officers, as well as occupants from the first crash and marked police units, he said. It then struck the car that Thornton was working on, he said.

 

Officers freed him from under the vehicle and rendered aid before Thornton was taken to HUMC, Russo said.

 

Thornton, a former Ridgefield Park, has remained in the Intensive Care Unit since then.

 

A member of multiple "families," Thornton is well-known among North Jersey police, firefighters and EMS workers.

 

"He's given countless hours to helping others," said Smith, the Moonachie first aid squad captain.

 

Donations to help Bobby's family are being accepted.

 

Resource Link

[5towman]

Very tragic. No words can express how I feel. Thoughts and prayers. 

[mooresbp]

How tragic!

[TowZone]

A message from Nick's Towing Service, inc.

 

In Memoriam

It is with a heavy heart we are informing you that, despite a mighty battle, our friend and towing brother, Rob Thornton has passed. Rob was 31 years old and joined Nick’s Towing Service approximately one year ago. He was a quiet young man who easily and quickly became part of the fabric of the NTS crew. He was laid back, friendly, and a genuinely nice human being. He enjoyed his work and did it well. Rob was someone who clearly believed in service to his community as evidenced by his choice of career, work as a volunteer EMT with the Moonachie First Aid Squad, and even in death as an organ donor.

 

The Nick’s Towing Service family is devastated by this senseless and horrific tragedy. Rob was our brother in towing, dear friend, and co-worker. He will never be forgotten. RIP Rob, we’ll pull the chains from here.

 

We will update you with information on the Tow Truck Procession and Memorial Service as soon as details are confirmed by Rob's Grandmother.

 

[rreschran]

This is another unfortunate loss of life that demonstrates a need of closing lanes or diverting traffic until lanes are restored. Christine and I extend our prayers to the Thornton family and Nick's Towing.     R.

[Nick Testa]

We are awaiting details for the Memorial Service and arrangements for Rob.

As soon as we have that information we will disseminate it.

 

[Moose]

R.I.P. condolences to Nick's along with Friends and Family. WE lost too many tow ops!