Tow truck operation workers spread awareness on "Move Over Laws' (NY)

[TowNews]

LIVERPOOL, N.Y. — Local tow truck operation workers have made it their mission to spread awareness of the Move Over Laws after 75-year-old Richard Congel hit tow truck operation worker Irael Martinez who was responding to a disabled vehicle along Onondaga Lake Parkway.

 

Tow Truck workers, Michael Epolito and John Sacco who know Martinez took it upon themselves to take this time to spread awareness and let people know that when you see an emergency patrol vehicle parked with their lights flashing, slow down, move over, and give them room so everyone is safe.

 

Sacco said, "Instead of going by at 50, slow down at 30. You know give us a chance and give us our space that we need to do our job."

 

To spread awareness on the matter, Sacco and Epolito have parked their towing trucks to Onondaga Lake Parkway and turned on their emergency lights to remind drivers of what happened to Martinez and to remind them to slow down and move over.

 

Sacco mentioned they have families to go home to as well and they worry about their safety because people aren't following the Ambrose-Searles Move Over Laws which states, as soon as you see lights, vests, or reflectors, check traffic around you, slow down and move over, from police or service vehicles. Martinez is 48-years-old and came to the US from Cuba to start a business and provide for his family.

 

Just like Sacco, Epolito has family back at home like his fiancé who fears that what happened to Martinez could happen to him.

 

"That is something that she worries about all the time. When I go out all hours of the night you know. Sometimes most of my phone calls are from her," said Epolito.

 

Sacco has been in contact with Martinez's daughter and stated that he is now in stable condition, but to prevent this from happening again, he and Epolito strongly encourage everyone to educate themselves on the rules.

Many times tow truck drivers are out at night without police, ambulances, etc.

 

"All-day sometimes, different hours of the evening. Even though we have our lights and police escorts on accident scenes sometimes you just have to be very aware of your surroundings," said Sacco.

 

To help Martinez, Sacco said his towing company has volunteered their time to do his police towing service calls for him.

 

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[TowNews]

Tow truck parked on parkway as reminder to move over: “Lights on for Martinez”

 

Syracuse, N.Y. — Drivers on the Onondaga Lake Parkway may have noticed a tow truck parked on the side of the road with its lights flashing in recent days.

 

Michael Epolito parked it there as a reminder: Move over for emergency and other vehicles parked on the side of the road.

 

Epolito parked the Midstate and Syracuse Towing truck on the parkway after tow truck driver Irael Martinez was hit by an SUV on Thursday .

 

Martinez, 48, of Syracuse, was loading a car onto his tow truck when he was hit. The SUV driver was under the influence of drugs, police said. Martinez is in critical condition at Upstate University Hospital.

 

“My truck is out there to show support,” Epolito said. “Things get forgotten.”

 

New York state law requires drivers to move over a lane for emergency vehicles and tow trucks stopped on the shoulder. The law is often referred to as the “Move Over” law.

 

“I want to make it known things aren’t being done,” Epolito said. “Let’s watch out a little further down the road.”

 

Epolito said drivers need to make sure they are paying attention to more than just the car in front of them.

 

Other tow truck drivers have parked their trucks on the parkway in solidarity with Martinez since he was struck.

 

“A bunch of us have gone and sat there,” said Angela Stefanowski, owner of American Towing. “Just to open awareness to these assholes.”

 

The driver of the SUV, Richard Congel, 76, of Clay, has been charged with assault and DWAI, according to the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office. Congel is the owner of R.C. Congel Boats in Brewerton and Alexandria Bay.

 

It is likely he will also be charged with a “move over” violation, said Sgt. Katherine Loveland, a spokesperson for the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office.

 

Until Epolito is satisfied he said his truck will stay on the parkway.

 

“The lights are on for Martinez,” he said.

 

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