Tower Down 02.18.20 (PA)

TowNews · February 18, 2020

Police: Indiana County man killed by own tow truck during repossession in McKeesport

A tow truck driver from Indiana County making a repossession was killed early Tuesday in McKeesport when the tow truck he was operating rolled back over him, Allegheny County police said.

Andrew Sester, 42, of Lucerne Mines (Center Township), was pronounced dead at 4:54 a.m., according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s office.

McKeesport police and paramedics were dispatched at 4:45 a.m. for a man who was reported under a tow truck in the 2000 block of Monongahela Avenue.

Allegheny County police assisted and they learned Sester the driver worked for International Recovery Systems, a company that repossesses vehicles.

Sester was repossessing a pickup truck on Monongahela Avenue, police said. He stopped to secure the tow and alert his dispatch center, but it appears he didn’t put the tow truck in park and it rolled backwards over him, police said.

When the dispatch center didn’t hear from Sester, they sent another truck and the other driver found Sester pinned under the rear wheels of the tow truck, police said. The truck was equipped with video and recorded the incident.

Police don’t suspect foul play and the tow truck and pickup will be inspected.

A spokesman for International Recovery Systems didn’t immediately return a message seeking comment.

RESOURCE LINK

mooresbp · February 18, 2020

Our thoughts and prayers,

how awful.

GRUMPS The Towman · February 19, 2020

Jesus.... Sounds like a possible case of complacency and routine gone horribly wrong. May you Rest in peace Sir.

rreschran · February 19, 2020

Could it be part of the hustle to get that impound hooked up and away without detection that led to this incident? There are several like type fatalities where the tow truck was not in park ultimately rolling over or backing over tow operators. Christine and I send our prayers to this agent's family and the company he worked for. R.