In Memory Of: Aaron Helfrich - MO - 04.30.07

[TowForce]

Tow Truck Driver Killed Outside Vehicle On I-270
Created: 4/30/2007 12:43:11 PM

KSDK - Authorities are questioning a tractor trailer driver after he allegedly hit and killed a tow truck operator working on Interstate 270 in St. Louis County. It happened Monday around noon, shutting down traffic for several hours.

32-year-old Aaron Helfrich of Festus was working near his tow truck on the side of Interstate 270 near Manchester when he was struck and killed. Missouri State Highway Patrol spokesperson Cpl. Julie Scerine said, "He had been removing an abandoned vehicle somebody left along side of the road. He had been removing that, loading it on his flatbed and was in the process of getting into his vehicle."

Witnesses told authorities the semi carrying heavy equipment struck the victim and did not stop. But it didn't take long for authorities to find the driver at a contracting company in South St. Louis County. Investigators are now trying to figure out if the victim was struck by the cab or by the extra-wide load, and if the driver even knew somebody was hit.

Cpl. Scerine said, "There's a possibility when you're hauling a big vehicle that a portion of your vehicle is outside of your sight distance. However we have been stressing so much to the public to pay attention to motor vehicles that are on the side of the roadway to move over and give them distance, give them room to work and do their job."

A woman identified only as a relative was escorted by authorities at the scene. She was driving in the opposite direction when she noticed there had been an accident. Cpl. Scerine said, "She saw the commotion and the lights and everything afterwards, knowing that her loved one operates a tow truck with this company, and she turned around and came back to the scene."

The woman collapsed when she identified the body. Cpl. Scerine said, "It's a horrific situation when a family member does show up on the scene, but you can't not allow them to see their family."

Cpl. Scerine did not know if the semi had an escort vehicle, which she said is required for extra wide loads.

Authorities are also trying to determine if the semi driver violated the move over law, which requires drivers to either change lanes or at least slow down if an emergency worker is on the side of the road.

 

 

Obituary:

Aaron Daniel Helfrich, 32, of Festus, Mo., born Sept. 17, 1974, in Red Bud, Ill., died Monday, April 30 2007, in St. Louis, Mo., due to a highway accident.

Mr. Helfrich was a tow truck driver who had worked for Bumper To Bumper Towing, Barnhart, Mo. He was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corp. Aaron was a member of Faith Baptist Church, Festus, Mo.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Cyril and Emma Haudrich and Rudy Helfrich; and a cousin, Kent Arnold.
Surviving are his wife, Tonya, nee Hall, Helfrich of Festus, Mo.; his children, Joshua Helfrich of Wilmington, N.C., Samuel, Joshawa, Chace, and Brittney of Festus, Mo.; his parents, Daniel and Karen, nee Haudrich, Helfrichs of Smithton, Ill.; his brother and sister, Eric (Heather) Helfrich of Summerfield, Ill., and Tina Helfrich of Smithton, Ill.; his grandmothers, Ottilia Helfrich of Belleville, Ill., and Ethel Sedgwick of Herculaneum, Mo.; brother and sister-in-law, Mike and Carrie Nephew of Herculaneum, Mo.; nieces and nephews, Rhandilynn and Michael Nephew of Herculaneum, Mo., and Robert, Ryan, Anna and Rudy Helfrich; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Darrell and Deborah Hall of Herculaneum, Mo.; aunts, uncles, cousins and many friends.
Memorials may be made to the family.

Visitation: Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 3, 2007, at Mahn Twin City Chapel, Festus, Mo.

Funeral: Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 4, 2007, at Mahn Twin City Chapel, Festus, Mo., with the Rev. Mike Goodwin officiating. Burial with military honors will be at 12:45 p.m. Friday, May 4, 2007, at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, Mo.

MAHN TWIN CITY CHAPEL, Festus, Mo.

 

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Man Charged In Connection With Fatal I-270 Accident
Created: 5/1/2007 7:39:12 PM

(KSDK) - St. Louis County prosecutors on Tuesday charged a Fenton man with leaving the scene of an accident in connection with a fatal accident Monday on Interstate 270.

According to a probable cause statement, Christopher Cottrell was driving a tractor-trailer with an oversized load when he struck a parked tow truck and killed driver Aaron Helfrich, 32, of Festus, Mo., just after noon on Monday.

The statement said Cottrell initially denied that he had been driving on I-270, then later admitted to driving on I-270 but denied hitting a person.

Cottrell was also charged with driving on a suspended license and possession of marijuana under 35 grams.

Cottrell is free on $10,000 bond.
KSDK

 

These are photos of the lineup for the tow driver killed on i-270, the funeral. Trucks lined up so the family could pass by and see us, then we followed to the cemetery. I do not know the true number of trucks but it was impressive to say the least,
 

Images are not available at this time.