Tow Truck Struck at Roadside
A Tuber Towing Truck was Struck Wednesday Evening on Highway 16a outside of Edmonton.
At approximately 6pm on January 13, 2021, a Tuber Towing Operator was travelling westbound on Highway 16a. As he passed 231 Street and left Edmonton, he saw a strange light on the road. It was one or two kilometres ahead, at the top of a hill. As he approached the light on the roadway, he saw a dark vehicle that was stopped. The occupant shone a flashlight to warn oncoming traffic. It was blocking the left lane. The disabled vehicle was stopped perpendicular facing the guardrail he had hit.
As our operator arrived on scene, he turned on his emergency lights and parked in the laneway. It helped protect the immobilized vehicle. The operator notified dispatch about the situation and said he would help protect the vehicle in a bad spot. The operator then exited his truck and made contact with the occupant. Less than a minute later, the operator and the occupant talked about what was happening. A dark-coloured sedan then hit the back of the Tuber Tow Unit.
Fortunately, no one was hurt. Our operator was safe. The driver of the stranded vehicle on the highway was safe. The two people in the other vehicle were also safe. The vehicle that hit the back of the tow truck was heavily damaged.
If the Tuber Towing Operator had not stopped for the stranded motorist, they likely would have been hit broadside. They could have been killed by the same vehicle. We are extremely thankful that the situation ended the way it did given the circumstances involved.
As competitive as the industry is, when it comes to traffic safety all the towing operators are a family. We look out for each other and know it’s not ‘if’ a circumstance such as this will happen, it’s ‘when.’ It is common to see two tow trucks on the highway shoulder together. One does the job, and the other blocks traffic and creates a safe work area.
From the Entire Towing Industry, we hope that this serves as a learning situation for everyone. Please, please, please follow the laws. When you see an emergency vehicle on the side of the road (Police, Fire, EMS, Tow Truck), SLOW DOWN and MOVE OVER. We want to go home just as much as you do! A few extra seconds in your community means a few more years in our lives.
No charges were laid in this incident.
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Sooo happy to hear no one was injured. Scary for sure and how hard is it to SLOW DOWN AND MOVE OVER???
What a bunch of nice people tow truck drivers are looking for there fellows citizens thank God no one was hurting that
be safe out there