Gas Prices Boon For Tow-Truck Drivers?

According to this news story from WMTW in ME, high gas prices are bringing on the business for at least one tow truck company. Click here to read it.

Unknown ID Tow Truck Driver Hero

Here's the Times-News story:

Two people were taken to St. Luke's Wood River Medical Center with injuries Saturday after a sports utility vehicle turned sideways and exploded into flames on Idaho Highway 75 north of Ketchum.

The two were rescued at the scene by a witness in another vehicle, who acted quickly to remove the SUV's windshield and pull out both passengers along with their two dogs, according to a Ketchum Fire Department official.

The accident occurred around 3:30 p.m. on Highway 75 near Eagle Creek. Ketchum Fire Department Capt. Tom Ancona said a GMC Yukon pulling a camping trailer made a sudden move to avoid hitting another vehicle. That led to a chain of events that almost turned deadly.

"Apparently the driver of the suburban made an evasive move to miss another vehicle," Ancona said. "When he did, the trailer lost control, slid sideways and when it rolled, it took the truck (sideways) with it."

The trailer was carrying four propane cylinders that began leaking, released all the propane and ignited.

"The ignition source for the fire was sparks and propane," said Ancona. "It basically burned the wheels off the vehicle for all intents and purposes. Everything was totaled."

Ancona said a witness driving a tow truck had pulled over after the crash, then acted quickly.

"There were two occupants in the SUV," Ancona said. "This guy driving by in a wrecker took the windshield out and (removed) them along with two dogs."

The two passengers were later taken by ambulance to St. Luke's Wood River Medical Center in Ketchum and treated for injuries, Ancona said. Authorities had no names for the two hospitalized, nor had they identified the man in the tow truck.

"If they hadn't gotten out, it would have been ugly," Ancona added.

Fire crews responded with three engine companies, needing 1,500 gallons of water and three hours to clean up the road. A state transportation department dump truck and backhoe were used to clean up the wreckage.

WI Tow Truck Driver Shot; Other Driver Robbed

Here's the WISN.com story:

MILWAUKEE -- One tow truck employee was shot and another robbed while responding to a call from a man claiming he needed a tow.When the employees arrived at 24th and Clarke at about 7 p.m. Saturday, they asked to see the vehicles' titles.The suspect then went behind a house and pulled out a gun.One of the tow truck drivers was shot in the arm as he tried to run away.The other tow truck driver was robbed.Officers said that they have not made any arrests.

Possible Suicide by Tow Truck in GA

From redandblack.com, a University of GA student newspaper:

University student Jason Zhengxin Hao was killed Friday night after running into the path of an oncoming trucck on the Athens Perimeter, according to police.

According to a report in the Athens Banner-Herald, a tow-truck driver pulling a tractor trailer saw Hao crouched on the side of the road as he approached South Milledge Avenue coming from Oconee County, said Athens-Clarke police Lt. Keith Morris.

Hao darted into the road. The driver of the tow truck and his passenger "had absolutely no time to react," Morris said.

The accident is being ruled as a possible suicide, Morris told the Banner-Herald, and no charges are planned against the truck driver.

Lucky CA Tow Truck Driver!

Here's an excerpt from the Banning/Beaumont Record Gazette:

It's a day Banning tow truck driver William Buell will never forget.

The driver for Stagecoach Towing said he arrived Sunday at a routine freeway flat tire call when his worst nightmare came to life.

As he stood along the freeway assisting a motorist, Buell said he looked up and saw a car pulling a boat coming right at him.

He dove for his life into the cab of his tow truck as the car sideswiped his truck, with a loud crash.

When the dust settled, Buell was one of six people injured in the accident just before noon Sunday, closing the Beaumont Avenue off ramp of Interstate 10 for hours. The crash involved three vehicles and boat.

Read the full story here.

Wrecked: Brotherhood - Video

From Streetfire.com:

Wrecked: The Gratzianna brothers own the Chicago O'Hare Towing Company where 'Life In The Crash Lane' is the name of the game. But does brotherly love overcome everything? SPEEDtv.com the motorsports authority for NASCAR, Formula 1, auto racing, moto racing, cars, bikes, automotive, motorcycles, Pinks and more.

Tribute to IL Tow Truck Driver Who Died Monday

Here's the story from News Tribune Online:

When most people think of dangerous every day jobs, occupations such as firefighter or policeman come to mind. Hardly ever would tow truck driver be considered.
That may have changed after the death of William Burton “Junior” Waite, 49, of Ladd, who died from injuries he sustained Monday. Waite was helping a broken down tractor-trailer on the right shoulder of the eastbound lane of Interstate 80 when an eastbound Double D Express semi out of Peru ran off the roadway and slammed into the rear of Waite’s service truck.
On Friday, more than two dozen tow truck drivers throughout the region lined their trucks along Main Street in front of Holy Trinity Church in Cherry to pay homage to one of their own by leading Waite’s funeral procession to Forest Lawn Memory Gardens in La Salle.

Unnamed Tow Truck Driver A Hero To New Parents

Interesting story from Canada's Toronto Star:

Precious Yutangco
STAFF REPORTER

The proud parents of a baby boy born on one of Toronto’s busiest highways this morning are considering naming him after his unusual birthplace, a hospital spokesperson says.

Vulpien Nzopfabarushe was driving pregnant wife Debbie McDonald to Toronto East General Hospital when they realized the baby was not going to wait, the spokesperson said.

Nzopfabarushe pulled over on the southbound lanes of the Don Valley Parkway near Wynford Dr. just after 8 a.m.

He frantically dialed 911 and with the help of an emergency services dispatcher he was able to deliver his son himself.

By the time ambulance and Toronto Fire arrived at the scene, the baby was already born and was lying on his mother’s lap, said Toronto Fire District Chief Stephan Powell.

The baby was given oxygen because he was a little blue, Powell said, but for the most part the infant was "crying and kicking and doing normal baby things."

Powell said a tow truck driver became a Good Samaritan when he pulled over to help officials keep the family safe during the delivery.

The driver parked his rig to protect the vehicle and even redirected traffic to avoid any potential crashes.

Unfortunately, amidst the chaos, nobody was able to get his name or the name of his company, said Powell.

Toronto Police Traffic Services expressed their gratitude to the driver.

"In cases like this, citizens do rise to the occasion and do help out," said Const. Mig Roberts of Toronto Police Traffic Services.

"We’d like to say a thank you to the tow truck driver and to any citizens who were in the area who facilitated the safe delivery of the child."

Both the mother and the baby were taken to Toronto East General Hospital, where they recovered quickly, a hospital spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said Nzopfabarushe and McDonald are considering naming the baby boy Shawn Don. They chose Shawn because all five of his brothers' names start with "Sh" and Don because he was born on the Don Valley Parkway.

The couple is expected to make a statement through the hospital's media relations department later this afternoon.

More on Parents Suing TX Tow Truck Driver, Towing Company & Bar for Daughter's DUI Death

Click here for the KFDM News story.

NH Tow Truck Driver Attacked For Towing Illegally-Parked Car

Jon Hatch, a 51-year old tow truck driver, was attacked by 27-year old Joel Ellis on Wednesday morning while Hatch was preparing to tow Ellis' vehicle that had been illegally-parked in a church's fire lane overnight. Ellis fractured Hatch's skull and has been charged with second-degree assault. Thankfully, Hatch's condition was upgraded from critical to satisfactory after being flown to an area hospital. Read the full story here.

Story on VA's Upcoming Tow Truck Regs

From the Madison Messenger:

The state will start enforcing stricter regulations on the tow truck industry at the beginning of next year.

About 30 local tow truck owners and drivers met Friday with Benjamin Foster, the executive

director of the Board of Towing and Recovery Operators, and representatives of the Virginia Association of Towing and Recovery Operators’ Roanoke Chapter to discuss upcoming regulations to their ndustry.

Tommy Woods, vice president of VATRO, said the meeting, which was held at the Blairs Volunteer Fire Department, was called because of speculation, rumor and misinformation running through the industry about regulations due to go into effect on Jan. 1.

Woods and Robert Young, the director of the state association, said the regulations are being set up in two phases: general towing regulations and public safety towing regulations.

It is only the general towing regulations that will be put into effect in January, with public safety towing regulations following in 2010.

Foster said the laws regulating the industry and the decision to start a regulatory board came from legislators who said they got too many complaints from constituents unhappy with the service they received from some towing companies.

As a result, the Board of Towing and Recovery Operators was created in 2006 to begin the lengthy process of regulating the industry, Foster said.

Young said the regulations will help to make the industry more respected, but admits many tow truck operators are not pleased about being regulated at all.

“Do we all like what they’re doing? Absolutely not,” he said.

In January, all tow truck companies will have to be registered with the state and have decals on their trucks that show what class of towing the trucks are allowed.

All drivers will have to be fingerprinted and have background checks done, and have special authorization cards that allow them to provide towing services.

Fee schedules have not been set, Foster said, adding he expects new required decals to cost $5 to $10 per tow truck and registration fees to run between $250 and $500 a year, depending on the number of tow trucks each operator owns.

Foster said the general regulations would be finalized by October, which would give operators and drivers plenty of time to comply with the new rules by the first of the year.

Operators and drivers are being urged to contact the regulation agency to get added to its mailing list. In addition, Foster can be reached at (804) 367-0714 or by email at BTRO@btro.virignia.gov.

Not knowing about the changes in regulations will not exempt an operator or driver from disciplinary action, such as fines or the loss of their license, once the rules go into effect on Jan. 1.

Contact Denice Thibodeau at dthibodeau@registerbee.com or (434) 791-7985.

Farewell, Friend

Our condolences to the family and acquaintances of Bob Fish, owner of Bob Fish Truck & Equipment of West Bend, WI. He passed away last Friday at age 59. Read his obituary here.

Parents Sue Tow Truck Driver, Bar for Daughter's DUI Death

This was an item in a Texas legal journal called the Southeast Texas Record:

Seeking monetary compensation after their daughter was killed while driving drunk, the parents of Megan Watkins have filed suit against the establishment that sold their daughter alcoholic beverages, the tow truck driver she hit head on and the daughter's insurance company.

Melissa Dwyer and Jerome Watkins filed their suit against The Dixie Dance Hall, Travis Darby, Independent Specialty Towing (Darby's employer) and Allstate Insurance Co. on June 23 in the Jefferson County District Court.

The late Watkins' parents also requested a temporary restraining order prohibiting the defendants from tampering with evidence. Judge Bob Wortham approved the TRO on the same day the suit was filed, June 23.

Only three weeks ago, on June 5, 2008, Watkins was driving drunk when she hit Darby's tow truck head on.

Watkins parents allege the incident was caused by Darby, who had "stopped his vehicle in the middle of the roadway which caused a head-on collision," the suit says.

Read the complete version here.

IL Tow Boss Killed on Monday

Our condolences to the family and acquaintances of William B. Waite, Jr., the owner of Waite's Service and Towing of Cherry, IL, who was killed on Monday morning.
Below is an excerpt from the Peoria Journal Star story:

William B. Waite, Jr., of Ladd was working on a broken down tractor-trailer on the right-hand shoulder of the eastbound lane near the Utica exit when a semi driven by Mark D. Boehm, 43, of Spring Valley slammed into the back of the truck Waite was servicing.

Illinois State Police are investigating the fatal accident. Waite was pronounced dead at the scene at 10:07 a.m. by LaSalle County Coroner Jody Bernard. Boehm was not injured.

Waite, the owner of Waite’s Service and Towing of Cherry, was accompanied by employee Christian Henninger, 30, of LaSalle. Henninger was severely injured in the accident.

Truck Driver Who Killed IN Tow Truck Driver Wants Trial Moved

From TriStateHomepage.com:

The man accused of causing a fatal traffic accident earlier this month wants his trial moved out of Gibson County. Attorneys for Randall McSwain filed papers in Gibson Circuit Court asking for a change of venue. A hearing on that request will take place July 10th. McSwain faces several charges including operating a vehicle and causing a death. Investigators say he had cocaine in his system shortly after the June 6th accident that killed tow truck operator Mike Cunningham. Cunningham was standing on the side of Highway 41 when McSwain apparently lost control of his rig and ran over him.

More On The Orlando (FL) Booting Issue

Read the Orlando Sentinel story here.

11-Year Old GA Girl Killed By Tow Truck

Sad, sad news... Here's the story.

NJ Closer to Having a "Move Over" Law

The NJ Senate approved the bill requiring drivers to slow down and change lanes when approaching an emergency vehicle or tow truck flashing emergency lights. However, the bill does need Assembly consideration. Read the full story here.

CAA Supports Survivor Fund Efforts

Here's the press release:

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - June 16, 2008) - At the 2008 AAA/CAA Automotive Services Conference in Indianapolis, Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) Clubs presented a check for $2,250 to the International Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame Survivor Trust Fund.

The towing industry estimates indicate that as many as 100 tow truck operators are killed providing emergency roadside assistance annually in North America. To help the families of towers killed while trying to help motorists in distress, CAA National Office Manager of Automotive Services, Dave Steventon, presented a cheque to Miller Industries Vice President of Marketing and Trust Fund Director, Randy Olson, for the Survivor Fund.

"As the largest provider of roadside assistance in Canada, CAA is glad to support the Survivor Fund. We encourage all drivers to slow down and move over when approaching any vehicle at the roadside with their lights flashing," stated Mr. Steventon.

While it is difficult to determine with any accuracy the annual number of tower fatalities on Canadian roads, it does seem that it is surprisingly low considering the dangers that towers are exposed to during the delivery of this needed service.

"On those occasions when lives are lost, it is comforting to know that the Survivor Fund exists to provide solace to bereaved families," added Mr. Steventon.

About the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA)

CAA is a federation of 9 automobile clubs serving over 5 million members through 148 offices across Canada. CAA provides a wide range of member services and works to improve travelling and motoring conditions at home and around the world, including national advocacy efforts on both traffic safety and public policy issues that affect Canadian motorists.

Allstate Getting Bigger Stake in Roadside Assistance

Here's the Dow Jones News story from CNNMoney.com:

DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

Allstate Corp. (ALL) has agreed to acquire a General Electric Co. (GE) unit whose operations include being the nation's second-biggest provider of roadside assistance, a deal that will make the insurer a big player in that sector.

Terms weren't disclosed for the planned purchase of the Partnership Marketing Group unit of GE Money. The deal is set to close by month's end and would make Allstate a roadside-assistance provider to more than 4 million drivers. AAA, which has 50 million members, is the biggest provider.

Allstate currently provides assistance to 1.2 million drivers, with 1.4 million additional Allstate auto-insurance holders getting towing or other benefits.

Beyond roadside assistance, Partnership Marketing provides various membership- based consumer programs and legal-service benefits plans. Allstate Chairman and Chief Executive Thomas J. Wilson said acquiring the business will "create value in businesses where we excel, tap into fast-growing markets and expand our playing fields."

-By Jennifer Hoyt and Kevin Kingsbury, Dow Jones Newswires; 201-938-2474; jennifer.hoyt@dowjones.com