Tow-Truck Driver Killed On Hwy 101 ID'd (CA)

[TowNews]

The 38-year-old was aiding a stranded motorist when struck, officials said.

MARIN COUNTY, CA – The Marin County Sheriff's Office has identified a tow-truck driver who was struck and killed while helping a stranded motorist on U.S. Highway 101 in Sausalito Tuesday afternoon as James Robert Morris, 38, of Benicia.

 

Morris worked for Wiler's Tow in Vallejo, California Highway Patrol Officer Andrew Barclay said. A woman who answered the phone at Wiler's Tow Wednesday morning said the company did not want to talk about the fatality at this time.

 

Morris died when he was struck by a vehicle on southbound Highway 101 around 2:25 p.m. Tuesday.

 

Barclay said the CHP is still investigating the fatal crash. The preliminary investigation indicates a female driver of a Toyota Prius stopped on the right-hand shoulder of the highway to call a tow truck.

 

Morris responded, parked the tow truck in front of the Prius and told the driver to stand away from her car. While Morris was attending to the Prius, a male driver lost control of his Chevrolet Silverado truck and crashed into the Prius, pushing it into the tow truck, Barclay said. Morris died at the scene.

 

The Prius driver was not injured and the Chevrolet driver suffered minor injuries and was taken to Marin General Hospital, Barclay said.

 

The fatal crash closed southbound Highway 101 until around 4:50 p.m.

 

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