Tower Struck - 01.29.23 (OR) "Updated 02.19.23"

[TowNews]

 

Tow truck driver hit on the Banfield, taken to hospital with broken arm and leg

 

 

 

PORTLAND, Ore. — At 6:47 a.m. Sunday, emergency responders were dispatched to I-84 near the Northeast 43rd Avenue exit and the overpass of Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard.

 

When police arrived, they found the driver of a tow truck laying on the pavement, injured, in front of his truck. Officers say they learned that the driver had just finished loading a vehicle when he was struck by a passing vehicle, believed to be another tow truck that continued driving and has not been located.

 

The injured driver, a 27-year-old man, was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries, including a broken arm and a broken leg.

 

The suspect’s vehicle is also believed to be a tow truck. It is described as a Ford tow truck with a wheel lift device on the back, but the color isn’t known.

 

RESOURCE LINK

 

 

[mooresbp]

WTF!

[TowZone]

UPDATED 01.31.23 with video in topic above.

 

Northwest Towing released this Reward Statement:

 

Cash Reward for Suspect Wanted:

Please Share!!!!! We are offering a cash reward for information leading to the arrest of the hit and run suspect. Please contact us immediately or PPB at mailto:crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov  Case# 23-26728

 

We are deeply saddened to announce that our team member Arthur Walker was struck by a hit and run “tow truck” driver early yesterday morning. We are looking for a tow truck with passenger side damages that was in the vicinity of I-84 WB between NE 43rd & Cesar Chavez @6:45am 1/29/2023. If you have a business with camera or a residence please check your cameras between 6am & 7:30am.

 

For the suspect to be a tow truck operator is sickening. This individual needs to be brought to justice. The Slow Down Move Over (SDMO) laws are critical to preserving the life of emergency responders. In the towing industry, we preach this endlessly. We spread awareness to help keep our industry safe and to help ensure that we all make it home. We need your help to identify this suspect.

 

What:The Portland Police Bureau was dispatched about 6:45 a.m. Sunday, an officer responded to I-84 West between the Northeast 43rd Street exit and the Northeast Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard overpass. When he arrived, he found a tow truck driver laying injured in front of his truck. The officer learned the tow truck driver had just finished loading a car when he was hit by a tow truck that did not stop!

 

Who: The suspect’s vehicle is believed to be a tow truck. It is described as a Ford tow truck with a wheel lift device on the back, but the color isn’t known.

 

 

A link to the GoFundMe set up to assist our team member Arthur is below. Please help!

https://www.gofundme.com/f/arthur-walker

 

The Fund has already raised nearly $7000.00 in the first 24 hours.

[TowForce]

UPDATED 02.01.23

 

ODOT Incident Management staffing concerns local tow truck drivers

 

 

[TowZone]

Dozens of tow truck drivers hold slow down, move over event in Portland

 

 

PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) - A Portland tow truck driver is still in the hospital weeks after he was hit by another tow truck driver while on the job.

 

Now, his friends and fellow drivers are hoping to raise awareness about the Move Over law, which requires drivers to slow five miles-per-hour below the posted speed limit or move over a lane for any car on the side of the road with flashing lights.

 

Being hit while on the job is a fear many tow truck drivers have every day when they’re on the clock.

 

Jacob Best with Northwestern Towing said he knew of two fellow drivers who were recently hit, one was inured and the other killed.

 

“A Chappelle’s driver within the last year or two, he got hit on the side of the freeway in Vancouver and he actually lost his leg,” Best said.

 

“TLC towing down the way had a driver struck and killed by a semi-truck. It’s just happening more and more.”

 

A few weeks ago, when Northwestern Towing driver Arthur Walker was hit on a job, the other drivers were devastated, said James Jerome, also with Northwestern Towing.

 

“When we got to the hospital it was a tear fest,” Jerome said.

 

On Jan. 29, Portland police said Walker had just loaded up a car and was still outside his truck on Interstate 84 when another tow truck driver hit him and left the scene. Police said the driver who hit Walker turned himself in later after seeing news coverage of the crash and realizing he was the suspect.

 

While Walker survived the crash, Jerome said Walker has needed several surgeries since.

 

“He has a heart of gold and I know he wants to be back out there, obviously it will be a long time before he’s on the road,” Jerome said. “But he at least wants to at least be with us, be with his friends and family and he’s got a huge support here right now.”

 

Dozens of tow truck drivers from Vancouver, Wash. to Beaverton lit up Portland streets and freeways with their hazard lights, hoping to raise awareness about the Move Over law on Saturday.

 

Best said the few seconds it takes to slow down or move one lane over when someone is on the side of the road can mean life or death.

 

“We help people get home whether it’s in the rain, the snow, or the middle of the night. This is my reason I wanna go home,” Best said, holding his son. “They’re waiting for me every day and I wanna go home. If it takes you 10 seconds or adds 30 seconds to your commute by having to slow down, it means the world to us.”

 

RESOURCE LINK