Tower Down - 11.04.23 (MI) "Updated 03.12.24"

[TowForce]

Man in median hit by vehicle & killed on M-6

 

KENT COUNTY, Mich. — The Michigan State Police are investigating a fatal crash on M-6 Saturday.

 

At midday Saturday, the Michigan State Police Grand Rapids Post responded to a report of a vehicle vs. pedestrian crash on eastbound M-6 near Kraft Avenue. Upon arriving at the scene, troopers discovered that a man was outside his vehicle, in the median, when an eastbound vehicle lost control and entered the median, striking the individual.

 

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

 

The incident remains under investigation by the MSP Grand Rapids Post.

 

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Reports are just coming in and normally we would wait for the news report. However, this being a Saturday and the number of posts on FB now. We have chosen to release what info has been posted already.

 

Keagan Spencer owner of Towzilla Towing and Recovery was unfortunately killed today while he had his daughter with him.

 

He had posted this image on his personal FB Page just prior to the incident. How tragic, are hearts go out to the family.

 

 

A friend wrote: Keagan was killed on the M6 doing what he loved with his little girl in the truck!

 

On October 25, 2023 Keagan posted this on his FB Page. It was almost like he knew!

 

 

 

 

‘I guess God just needed him a little more’; Hastings parents remember tow truck driving son

Keagan Spencer, 25, was towing vehicles Saturday afternoon on M-6 when he pulled over to save a dog running loose on the highway. Another driver lost control, hit Keagan, and killed him.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7TF3oxDtM8

 

 

[George]

Please advise if family needs financial assistance .  

[Topher]

Good man and definitely one of the hardest working people I knew and had the chance to know and work alongside 

[yoBdaBenO]

Very Sad, this little girl has not only lost her dad to someone's negligence. But, she was there when the tragedy took place. I hope they did their best to shield her from the scene. Prayers to the entire family.

[5towman]

My heart goes out to his family. Very tragic. Our thoughts and prayers will be with them as they go through this difficult time. 

[Heylisawhat]

Keagan you were an amazing operator. This is so hard to accept.

[mooresbp]

Our thoughts and prayers

[TowForce]

 

 

https://youtu.be/8FP9-qQD5-k?si=RxdlH6dwuS4_DMu4

 

 

[TowForce]

 

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[TowForce]

Father of tow truck driver killed begs public to follow 'move over' laws

 

https://youtu.be/ZPAOUXtVO2E?si=EhR4aN2nHtaeCb6w

[TowForce]

 

[TowForce]

New bill honors fallen West Michigan tow truck driver; supporters hope it will save lives

 

 

Keagan Spencer was a third generation tow truck driver from Hastings. A bill, nicknamed "Keagan's Law", hopes to put blue flashing lights on top of wreckers.

 

Click here to read the entire bill.

 

HASTINGS, Mich. — They're there at almost every crash, pileup or breakdown on the side of the road or highway. Tow truck drivers; you could call them part of the first responder group.

 

"Give us the same courtesy as the police, because we are working on the side of the road just as much as they do," said second-generation tower Matt Spencer.

 

Matt has been working out of Hastings and has years of experience helping stranded motorists rain or shine.

 

As of right now, police are the only emergency vehicles in the state of Michigan to run red and blue lights, but there's efforts to change that in Lansing.

 

Rep. Gina Johnsen (R), who represents Michigan's 78th District in the state house, has introduced House Bill 5418 which would allow tow truck drivers, or wreckers, to run blue flashing lights when working an emergency scene.

 

"It raises awareness. You add another contrasting color, and it raises the level of seriousness (that) something's going on," said Rep. Johnsen.

 

The bill is also known as "Keagan's Law", an homage to Keagan Spencer, a third-generation tower who was hit and killed on the side of M-6 near Caledonia in November 2023.

 

He was outside of his wrecker with his flashing emergency lights on. His daughter was in the passenger seat of the truck.

 

Keagan was Matt's son.

 

"It's not just blue and red. Those are the lights that people seem to know, they associate that with law enforcement," said Matt.

 

Other states have passed similar laws that allow blue lights on wreckers, including:

 

• New York
• Iowa
• Pennsylvania
• Kansas
• Missouri

"They want more help," said Rep. Johnsen. "You'd love to have a police officer at the side of the road when a tow truck is helping a disabled vehicle or removing a crash scene, but we can't. We're already short police officers so we can't have that."

 

While accidents can still happen no matter w'hat lights an emergency vehicle is running, the hope is to add as many tools to the toolbox as possible.

 

"The towers that I'm talking to, these are the guys who are literally getting into the tow truck every day and going out and helping the public," said Matt. "They're tired of raving about their brothers and sisters that are fallen on the side of the road."

 

This bill is not a requirement, but an option for wreckers. Matt is planning on sharing his family's story next week in front of lawmakers in Washington D.C. Later, he'll share his story once again in front of Michigan lawmakers in March.

 

RESOURCE LINK

 

Click here to read the entire bill.

 

[TowForce]

 

[Matthew Spencer]

Keagan being the best dad he could be at his daughter’s first birthday.