Tow Truck Struck 01.23.20 (CAN)

[TowNews]

Thursday morning in Edmonton on the Anthony Henday another Tow Truck was Struck.

 

Tow Truck Operator was in the truck with the customer at the time of impact, both are OK.

 

This is the 4th incidents this month in the Edmonton Region.

 

 

[TowNews]

Driver narrowly escapes as semi plows into his tow truck, catches fire

 

 

All Trevor Snyder saw before running for his life on a dark stretch of highway was the headlights of an oncoming truck, moments before it slammed into the back of his tow truck and caught fire, killing the driver.

 

The fatal crash occurred Wednesday at approximately 11 p.m. on Highway 2 south of Highway 42 outside of Innisfail, about 120 kilometres north of Calgary. Snyder, who co-owns Snyder Enterprises in Beiseker, had pulled off to the shoulder to assist someone stranded on the side of the road with a disabled vehicle.

 

He had just grabbed a tuque from the passenger side of his tow truck when he saw the semi-truck coming straight for him.

“I walked around the front of the truck to face traffic and as I was peeking out all I could see were headlights coming right for me,” said Snyder. “At that point I started running like crazy and thought, ‘this isn’t going to end well.’ ”

 

He said the semi-truck, which was pulling two trailers, slammed into his tow truck, which was launched into the air and landed on its roof. Meanwhile, the semi-truck continued to roll down the highway, about the length of two football fields, and went up in flames.

 

Snyder said that by the time the vehicle stopped moving, the fire was visible. There was no way to reach the driver.

 

“There was another gentleman that was closer to where the truck was stopped. He was trying his best, from what I gather, to assist the gentleman. There’s nothing that any one of us could have done without putting ourselves in serious harm’s way of getting hurt,” he said.

While he counts himself lucky to be alive, he said the entire experience has him hurting.

 

“I know machinery and material objects can be replaced but a human life is the most valuable and precious thing on the planet,” said Snyder.

 

“We all have to be able to come home at the end of the day to someone. We all have family members. We have mothers, kids, relatives and everything. It’s one of those things where I feel really bad for the gentleman and his family, and I am just very, very fortunate that I walked away OK.”

 

The 62-year-old driver of the semi-truck was declared dead on scene and RCMP have not released his identity, however they said he was from Edmonton. Snyder and the person he was assisting were not injured.

Snyder said his tow truck is destroyed.

• AMA's Slow Down Move Over Day brings attention to tow truck safety

Being in the transportation industry for 20 years, he said it’s not the first time he has witnessed a tragedy. He said his team is adamant about safety and usually has a blocker truck in place, four-way flashers on, emergency beacons and pylons.

 

“When it comes to these situations, you can never be too careful,” he said.

 

Snyder Enterprises is a partner of the Alberta Motor Association, which released a statement Thursday regarding the fatal crash.

 

“This is a deeply tragic reminder of the ongoing importance of roadside safety — a responsibility we all share. A single loss of life is one too many,” AMA wrote. “Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of everyone affected by this devastating loss.”

 

Innisfail and Blackfalds RCMP responded to the collision. Traffic was diverted throughout Thursday morning while investigators were on scene. An investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing.

 

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