Tower Down - 03.15.23 (GA) "Updated 04.14.23"

[TowForce]

Information is just coming in about a tower being struck and killed this morning.

 

 

Press Release

For Immediate Release: 3-15-23

Accident with Fatality

 

On 3-15-23, around 7:00am, Coweta County Sheriff’s Office deputies were assisting GSP with an accident on the interstate when a secondary accident occurred which resulted in the death of a tow truck operator who was on scene assisting the initial accident. A patrol deputy was standing next to the tow truck operator when the accident occurred and received non-life-threatening injuries.

 

Sheriff Lenn Wood extends his deepest condolences to the family and friends of the male who lost his life this morning. We are extremely thankful the deputy involved was cleared from the hospital and will be fine.

 

Please always be mindful of Georgia’s “Move Over Law” which requires drivers to move over one lane, when possible, if an emergency vehicle with flashing lights is parked on highway. If traffic is too heavy to move over safely, the law requires drivers to slow down instead and be prepared to stop.

 

Any additional information regarding this tragic accident will be given by Georgia State Patrol.

 

 

Resource Link: 

Coweta County Sheriff's Office (Georgia)

UPDATED: Suspected DUI driver kills tow truck driver

Georgia State Troopers said 49-year-old Toby Bowden was in Newnan County Tuesday morning to tow a car after a wreck. That's when investigators say a driver going too fast for conditions swerved to avoid hitting firetrucks and plowed right into him.

 

Resource Link with news video

 

 

 

Tow truck driver killed, driver arrested in I-85 north crash in Coweta County

 

Troopers responded to a vehicle crash on I-85 Northbound at mile marker 40 early Wednesday morning.

 

COWETA COUNTY, Ga. — A tow truck driver was killed Wednesday morning after another car struck him while standing in the emergency lane in Coweta County, according to the Georgia Department of Public Safety. 

 

Troopers and deputies with the Coweta County Sheriff's Office responded to a vehicle crash on I-85 northbound at mile marker 40 early Wednesday morning.

 

Investigators with GDPS said the tow truck driver, identified as 49-year-old Toby Bowden, was assisting with a previous crash when he was hit and killed by another car. The sheriff's office also said a deputy was hurt.

 

The department said a 2006 Honda Civic crashed into the tow truck driver while he was standing on the left side emergency lane. They also added that two fire trucks had their emergency lights activated just north of the tow truck.

 

The driver of the Honda, identified as 31-year-old Christopher Thornton, was driving too fast, the department said. He tried to swerve to avoid striking the fire trucks but lost control of his car. The Honda began rotating counterclockwise towards the left side emergency lane, where it hit Bowden.

 

Bowden died at the scene, the department said. Thornton was arrested on the spot as he had a previous warrant, and he is now facing multiple charges, including:

 

First-degree vehicular homicide

Move over law violation

Reckless driving

Driving under the influence

Failure to maintain lane

Too fast for conditions

 

The sheriff's office also wants to remind drivers of Georgia's "Move Over Law," which makes it mandatory for drivers to move over one lane "when possible" if there is an emergency vehicle with flashing lights parked on the highway. When traffic is heavy, the office said to slow down and be prepared to stop. 

 

 

Alabama Towing & Recovery Association:

 

LODD - Coweta County Georgia - Toby Bowden, 49 years old.

 

Toby Bowden was simply doing his job when Georgia Department of Public Safety says a driver failed to move over.

 

Troopers charged Christopher Thornton with vehicular homicide, move over law violation, reckless driving and DUI. GSP said he had warrant out for his arrest prior to his morning's crash.

 

Troopers say Bowden was working with first responders to clear a crash around 7 a.m. and was standing on the left side emergency lane north of two fire engines that were blocking the area. Troopers say Thornton was was driving too fast for conditions as he came up on the firetrucks, he swerved, causing him to lose control and start to spin counterclockwise. He hit Bowden, killing him on scene.

 

Please keep Bowden, his family, colleagues and other first responders who knew him in your prayers. This is one of several cases recently where drivers didn't move over but in this case it cost a man his life.

 

 

Tow truck driver - a retired Marine, father and fiancé - killed helping clean up crash on I-85

 

 

 

Obituary for Toby L. Bowden:

Toby Len Bowden was born on July 28, 1973 to Barry Bowden and Terrie Barnes. He was the oldest of five children. Toby died on March 15th doing what he loved doing - helping others. Toby has one son, Shea Bowden, and he was very proud of him. Toby served our country as a marine for 4 years, and in the late 90's, shortly after leaving the military, he began his towing career with Southern Towing of Atlanta, GA. Toby was employed at Parker Towing for eleven years, where he earned the respect of his co-workers and peers.

 

Toby was very proud to have been clean since October 6th of 2020. He attended NA meetings at least 4 times a week, and many times he would lead the meetings. Toby always felt that no addict was beyond help. He was involved in the Veterans Court and mentored other veterans. Toby never met a stranger; he was always willing to help others and he was quick to forgive.

Toby was to be married on September 17th of this year to Misty Wright. Toby and Misty have been together for 9 years, and Toby was to gain two stepchildren from the marriage, Haley and Kane Wright. Toby is preceded in death by his grandparents Mary and Donald Bowden, his father Barry Bowden, his aunt Joy Bowden, his cousin Chris Bowden, and his nephew Shane Bowden. Toby is also preceded in death by his beloved pit bull dogs, Blue and Brody, both of which will be laid to rest with him.

Toby is survived by his son Shea Bowden (Taran Ward), his mother Terrie Barnes, his fiancé Misty Wright, and her children Haley and Kane Wright. He is also survived by brothers Wilson Fuller (Bridgette Chapman), Joshua Bowden (Jasmine), sister Amanda Bowden, brother Quenton Barnes, brother Kory Gosssan (Jessie Goss), and brother Jeff Pope (Angie Echols).

Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.mckoon.com

Funeral services will be held at Unity Baptist Church on Thursday March 23, 2023 at 1:00PM. The family will receive friends at 11:00 with Rev. T.J. Boyd officiating. Interment to follow at Oak Hill Cemetery.

 

Toby Bowden posses with his son Shea.

 

Toby Bowden remembered as selfless, family leader

 

READ ARTICLE HERE: RESOURCE LINK

 

[Littletow]

Newnan, GA- disabled vehicle on the side of the road, tractor trailer came by and hit him from my understanding. More to come. Prayers for the family of this operator.

[Doreen ur Finance Lady]

Another sad tragedy

Sending prayers to the family and his friends and his coworkers.

[auto rescue]

MY Condoles to operator Bowdens family and friends.

[mooresbp]

So sad

[5towman]

Thoughts and prayers b

[TowForce]

Procession escorting Toby Bowden to the Funeral Home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TowForce]

Trooper nearly died in crash that killed tow truck driver clearing separate crash in Coweta County

 

COWETA COUNTY, Ga. — Court testimony on Friday revealed that a Georgia State Patrol trooper almost died in the same crash that killed a tow truck driver on I-85 last month.

 

Channel 2′s Tom Jones was in a Coweta County courtroom when the driver, 32-year-old Christopher Thornton, appeared before a judge in an attempt to get a bond set.

 

Toby Bowden, 49, was on the scene of a crash on I-85 last month working to clear it when a driver going too fast crashed into him. Bowden died from his injuries.

 

Thornton’s attorney argued that he had just gotten off after working 12-hour shifts for three weeks in a row and was exhausted. Prosecutors say he smelled like marijuana at the scene of the crash.

 

The victim’s brother asked the court to keep him behind bars.

 

“I mean, I would request you deny bond,” Wilson Fuller told the judge.

 

Fuller told the judge he did not want to see the man responsible for his brother’s death released.

 

“People have lost family members, but ours is never coming home. He will go home one day,” Fuller said.

 

A trooper testified that deputies, fire trucks and Bowden were at the scene of the crash when Thornton came speeding through.

 

“He then swerved to the left went across all lanes into the median and that is when he struck Mr. Bowden,” Trooper Ross Buchanan testified.

 

Buchanan said a deputy’s body camera shows her diving out of the way. He says that deputy was nearly killed as well.

 

Thornton’s attorney says he wasn’t impaired at the time of the crash, just exhausted.

 

“He simply was exhausted and misjudged the entire scene,” Jackie Patterson said.

 

Thornton’s mother extended her condolences to Bowden’s family, but says it was all an accident.

 

“My heart goes out to the Bowden family. This was a tragedy and I am hurt over this,” Maleesa Hurston.

 

The judge denied bond after learning Thornton was previously charged with failure to appear twice.

 

“This is a felony vehicular homicide, so it’s no doubt he will show up,” Patterson said.

 

Prosecutors say there was a line of traffic that was able to slow down because of the earlier crash and only Thornton couldn’t see what was going on.

 

Bowden was supposed to get married this September.

 

RESOURCE LINK