Tow truck driver survives close call

Tow truck driver survives close call
http://www.kptv.com/news/25178848/detail.html
PORTLAND, Ore. -- A tow truck driver hooking up a car to his rig on Highway 26 was struck and injured by a car Sunday afternoon, fire officials said.
Portland firefighters said the car’s driver lost control as the vehicle spun out on wet pavement and crashed into the tow truck driver just west of the Vista Ridge Tunnel.The tow truck driver survived and is recovering at a Portland hospital. His name was not released.The car’s driver stayed at the scene of the wreck and cooperated with the investigation.

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Philly tow truck driver charged with killing rival

Philly tow truck driver charged with killing rival

PHILADELPHIA -- Turf wars among tow truck drivers are nothing new in Philadelphia, but they have turned unusually violent - and now deadly - in 2010.

A territory feud apparently led one driver to repeatedly run over over a rival with his truck at a gas station early Sunday, killing him, police said.
Ray Santiago's death comes months after authorities charged another tow-truck driver with shooting a competitor at an accident scene. Both firms involved in that case were then vandalized, one with a barrage of bullets and the other with a fire that tore through 13 vehicles.
"It runs in cycles, but 2010 has been the most violent year I've seen in almost a quarter century," said lawyer William J. Brennan, who has defended several tow operators charged in on-the-job scrapes. "Maybe it's the economy. Maybe people are getting desperate."
Glen McDaniel, 25, of Philadelphia was being held without bail on murder, drunken-driving and other charges in Santiago's death. It was not clear if he has an attorney.
Philadelphia police try to rotate tow jobs among a list of approved operators, but they don't do so if a tow truck beats officers to a crash scene. That leaves rivals racing dangerously through narrow city streets to claim jobs before police give them away, critics say.
That cutthroat competition explains why TV producers seized on Philadelphia for an upcoming TLC network show called "Wreck Chasers," which is following several drivers with an unidentified firm for a series set to start next month.
The city was chosen because of the unusual and competitive nature of its towing businesses, the show's executive producer, Jim Kowats, told The Associated Press earlier this month. A TLC spokeswoman did not immediately return a message Monday.
Santiago, 30, may have been involved in a towing-related film project, but police did not know if it was the TLC program, Lt. Frank Vanore said. And no filming was under way when the fatal argument erupted, said Vanore, a police spokesman.
City Councilman Jim Kenney wants oversight of the industry moved from police to the Philadelphia Parking Authority. The authority has dispatchers and impound lots available, and could eliminate the dubious practice of drivers getting cash from auto-body shops to bring in wrecked cars, Kenney said.
In July, police charged Jose LaTorre Jr. of J & Sons Autobody with shooting a Mystical Towing driver in the thigh as they argued at a crash scene. LaTorre had gotten there first, but was trying to claim the customer from his Cadillac Escalade. The Mystical tow driver therefore considered the client fair game.
"With wreck chasers, whoever's got a truck and some guts, and a connection with a body shop, wins," Brennan said.
He had defended Santiago on unrelated drug charges in 2008, and recalled his client as a family man, with a wife and children.
Police believe Santiago had an underlying feud with McDaniel over their respective territories, although there was no accident in progress when they met up Sunday just before 3 a.m. at a North Philadelphia gas station. They ran into each other as a bar let out across the street.
They may have argued over a woman at the scene, but police believe they mostly fought over their turf.
"I don't think it was about a specific tow, like we've seen (at issue) in the past. This is more like, 'You're in my area. What are you doing down here?'" Vanore said.

Read more:  http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/09/27/1844472/philly-tow-truck-driver-charged.html

Motorist charged with DUI for hitting tow truck driver

Motorist charged with DUI for hitting tow truck driver

http://www.wlbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=13220078

JACKSON, MS (WLBT) – Jackson police have arrested the motorist who they say struck a tow truck driver working an accident scene.
J.P.D. Officer Colendula Green said shortly after two a.m. Sunday morning the unidentified tow truck operator was working on a disabled vehicle on south Gallatin Street, near the Pilot Travel Center.
Green said officers were on the scene when a woman driving a green Chevrolet Silverado hit two cars before colliding into the man who was removing a vehicle from a previous accident.
The wrecker operator suffered two broken legs and was transported to a local hospital.
The driver, whose name has not been released, fled the scene but was soon caught.
She is charged with dui and is being held at the Hinds County Detention Center.

Tow Operator killed in WA

Tow truck operator killed in hit-and-run crash on I-5

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/103711174.html

SEATTLE - State troopers arrested a woman who they say struck and killed a tow truck driver on Interstate 5 in Seattle early Friday morning.
Officials said the 51-year-old tow truck driver was on the ramp from Spokane Street to southbound I-5 working on a vehicle damaged in an earlier crash when he was hit about 1:15 a.m.
William Padilla, who worked for GT Towing in Seattle, was kneeling down at the front of the disabled car when a man driving an SUV in the HOV lane lost control and drove across all southbound lanes before hitting the tow truck operator.
"We had DOT at the scene doing traffic control... so it was a pretty safe scene," Washington State Patrol Trooper Trisena John said.
"But, still, this person for some reason cut across all lanes and ended up hitting this tow truck driver even though there was plenty of traffic control and plenty of lights to notify approaching traffic that there was a collision scene ahead."
Padilla, of Burien, died at the scene.
Investigators said the woman driving the SUV sped off but was captured minutes later at the bottom of the Michigan Street off ramp.
The driver and another person who was in the car at the time of the crash were arrested and booked into the King County Jail. Officials said both were under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

And a follow up on the charges:

$150K bail for woman accused in tow truck driver's death

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/103792729.html

SEATTLE - A 20-year-old woman accused of hitting and killing a tow truck driver on Interstate 5 then fleeing the scene was ordered held in jail on $150,000 bail Saturday.
State troopers arrested the woman, Shavelle Lewis, 20, early Friday after the crash that killed a 51-year-old tow truck driver. She was booked into King County jail for investigation of vehicular homicide.
According to the Washington State Patrol, the tow truck driver was hit at about 1:15 a.m. while on the ramp from Spokane Street to southbound I-5. He was working on a vehicle damaged in an earlier crash.
William Padilla, who worked for GT Towing in Seattle, was kneeling down at the front of the disabled car when a woman in an SUV drove across all southbound lanes and hit the tow truck operator.
"This person for some reason cut across all lanes and ended up hitting this tow truck driver even though there was plenty of traffic control and plenty of lights to notify approaching traffic that there was a collision scene ahead," said State Patrol Trooper Trisena John.
Padilla, of Burien, died at the scene.
Investigators said the woman driving the SUV sped off but was captured minutes later at the bottom of the Michigan Street off-ramp.
When troopers arrived they found Lewis standing outside the SUV, but the keys to the vehicle were in her pocket. Officials said she appeared to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
At Saturday's court hearing, prosecutor Jennifer Peterson argued for a $250,000 bail, saying Lewis has had 14 arrest warrants since 2003 and that she is a "danger to community."
Her criminal record includes previous misdemeanor convictions for prostitution and possession of marijuana, plus a gross misdemeanor conviction for fourth-degree assault.
Lewis waived her right to appear at Saturday's hearing in King County Superior Court. Her next court appearance is set for Tuesday.

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Just a little update ...

Hey everyone! Hope the week is going awesome for you all. I know it has been pretty busy for myself.

So just posting a little update about a couple things. I haven't had much time to even get a chance to work on the web page this week :( I am sorry everyone!! It will get done eventually. It's pretty tough getting it up and running all by myself, but I am working on it slowly.

Also, I am looking for some suggestions for our featured fan of the week question. If you have any questions you would like to ask, be sure to send me a message on facebook or email me at amandadavid@towgirl.com

If you haven't checked out http://www.towgirl.org, be sure to do so!! I write a blog on there called Chain-n-Cable! Check it out and be part of the hottest new tow web site!!

Stay safe everyone!!
xoxo Amanda

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