Tower Down - 05.02.22 (FL)

[TowNews]

Ocala tow truck driver killed when pickup he was hauling hits and drags him almost 30 feet

 

 

A tow truck driver was killed Monday when the vehicle he was towing struck him and dragged him about 30 feet, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

 

Troopers said the incident occurred about 3:30 p.m. on Southeast Second Street at Southeast 54th Court. The intersection is south of Fort King Street and just west of Baseline Road.

 

The 38-year-old Ocala tow truck driver had repossessed a F-350 pickup truck and was towing it along the roadway. He stopped for some reason, perhaps because he detected a problem.

 

Authorities said the man got out of the vehicle and went underneath the pickup truck. But the tow truck was not in park. The tow truck moved forward, and the pickup struck the man and dragged him approximately 30 feet, FHP said. 

 

After the incident, someone saw the tow truck and called 911. Medical personnel arrived and pronounced the man deceased. The highway patrol no longer releases names of people involved in traffic fatalities.

 

Officials said a 9-year-old boy, who is the man's stepson, was in the vehicle at the time. He was not injured. 

The investigation is ongoing, FHP said.

 

Resource Link

 

Editor's note: This story has been revised after the Star-Banner received new information about the 9-year-old boy's relation to the tow truck driver.

 

Tow truck driver found dead under vehicle attached to truck in Plantation

 

 

 

 

PLANTATION, Fla. – A tow truck driver was found dead Friday morning under a vehicle that was attached to his truck, authorities said.

 

Plantation police said they were called about a traffic accident in a parking lot at 8100 W. Broward Blvd.

Officers arrived to find the tow truck driver's body under the vehicle.

 

The driver was identified later in the afternoon as Francisco Canjura, 34, of Tamarac.

 

The cause of death is under investigation, but one of the owners of the repossession company, Prowler Recovery, told Local 10 News reporter Layron Livingston that it appears that his employee didn't secure the vehicle well enough and the SUV ran over him.

 

"He was taking the car out of gear because it was an all-wheel drive vehicle," Stuart Weinstock said. "He got underneath it, didn't realize that he left the truck in drive and it crushed him."

 

Weinstock said Canjura worked for his company for 12 years.

 

"This kid was just a down to earth, good-hearted, hard-working, unbelievable individual, and for this to happen is just a mess, man," Weinstock said.

 

A larger tow truck was brought it to lift the SUV so authorities could remove the victim's body.

 

Resource Link

[rreschran]

What a horrible death that sends a chilling reminder to make sure truck transmissions are in neutral and the E-Brake is set before exiting the tow truck. Christine and I send our prayers to the tower's family and the company he worked for.     R&C

[auto rescue]

Condolences to the operators family. 

[mooresbp]

Our thoughts and prayers

[5towman]

Very tragic. Thoughts and prayers

[Old Tow]

We here at Rick's Towing are lifting the family up to the Lord in our Prayers !

[Moose]

Our thoughts are with the family.