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Family and Towmen Protest Verdict in Death of Tower

In Charleston, S.C., the family of a tower gathered at the courtroom to protest the verdict and minimal fine imposed on the driver who hit and killed tower, Timmy Peagler, on Sept 13, 2022. Barry Pritchard, who was driving the car that hit Peagler, was given a $500 fine. Peagler’s widow Trisha, lawyers and fellow tow-truck drivers admit to being devastated over a sentence they consider “a slap on the wrist.”

“I don’t think it’s right,” Trisha Peagler said. “I think the law needs to be changed. It’s too late for him, but not for them [other drivers] and I’m going to fight for them.”

According to Charlie Condon, the attorney representing the Peagler family, the defendant Barry Pritchard was driving at approximately 70 mph and admitted that he was not looking at the road when the accident happened.

“If you look at what this defendant did, speeding, not looking, and then not respecting the move-over law, it resulted in the death of an innocent public safety worker,” Condon stated. He pointed out that Pritchard was in clear violation of the move-over law. “Extreme negligence” is how Condon describes Pritchard’s actions that resulted in the crash. Condon says Pritchard should have been charged with involuntary manslaughter.

“Involuntary manslaughter is defined as the reckless disregard of the safety of others,” Condon explained. “And we feel clearly and passionately that there’s probable cause to believe that defendant Pritchard recklessly disregarded the safety of others with his conduct that day, which resulted in the death of Timmy Peagler.”

Source: live5news.com

Missouri Tower Remembered for Community Service

Matthew Pauk, owner of Patriot Towing in Washington, Missouri was honored by thousands of community members on June 12 after he was killed in a motorcycle accident on June 4. His wife Jennifer, who was with him, also suffered serious injuries. The couple raised five children and moved to Washington, Missouri, a few years ago.

“Matt was definitely one of the guys that, no matter what the situation was with customers, he was always there, no questions asked,” said Eric Korte, Pauk’s longtime friend.

A line of first responders and Pauk’s tow trucks led the ceremony.

“Pretty crazy you can get people to show up at the drop of a hat like that,” Korte noted.

“You would think he had been doing this his whole entire life,” said Jeff Winebaugh, a veteran tow truck operator and employee at Patriot Towing. “From the time his feet hit the floor in the morning, till when he went to bed, even when he went to bed, he was wide open.”

Winebaugh said Pauk was active- ly involved with assisting community members and first responders, often helping out free of charge. From lending a hand to being a big advocate and supporter of BackStoppers, an organization that supports families who have lost first responders, Winebaugh and others said the procession in Pauk’s honor was all about the impressions he had made.

“Time goes on; [but] he won’t be forgotten,” Korte said.

Family and friends said that getting involved with BackStoppers or donating to help the family are ways everyone can continue to show support and remember Pauk.

Source: fox2now.com

Family and Towmen Protest Verdict in Death of Tower

In Charleston, S.C., the family of a tower gathered at the courtroom to protest the verdict and minimal fine imposed on the driver who hit and killed tower, Timmy Peagler, on Sept

13, 2022. Barry Pritchard, who was driving the car that hit Peagler, was given a $500 fine. Peagler’s widow Trisha, lawyers and fellow tow-truck drivers admit to being devastated over a sentence they consider “a slap on the wrist.”

“I don’t think it’s right,” Trisha Pea- gler said. “I think the law needs to be changed. It’s too late for him, but not for them [other drivers] and I’m going to fight for them.”

According to Charlie Condon, the attorney representing the Peagler family, the defendant Barry Pritchard was driving at approximately 70 mph and admitted that he was not looking at the road when the accident happened.

“If you look at what this defendant did, speeding, not looking, and then not respecting the move-over law, it resulted in the death of an innocent public safety worker,” Condon stated. He pointed out that Pritchard was in clear violation of the move-over law. “Extreme negligence” is how Condon describes Pritchard’s actions that resulted in the crash. Condon says Pritchard should have been charged with involuntary manslaughter.

“Involuntary manslaughter is defined as the reckless disregard of the safety of others,” Condon explained. “And we feel clearly and passionately that there’s probable cause to believe that defendant Pritchard recklessly disregarded the safety of others with his conduct that day, which resulted in the death of Timmy Peagler.”

Source: live5news.com

Missouri Tower Remembered for Community Service

Matthew Pauk, owner of Patriot Towing in Washington, Missouri was honored by thousands of community members on June 12 after he was killed in a motorcycle accident on June 4. His wife Jennifer, who was with him, also suffered serious injuries. The couple raised five children and moved to Washington, Missouri, a few years ago.

“Matt was definitely one of the guys that, no matter what the situation was with customers, he was always there, no questions asked,” said Eric Korte,

Pauk’s longtime friend.

A line of first responders and Pauk’s tow trucks led the ceremony.

“Pretty crazy you can get people to show up at the drop of a hat like that,” Korte noted.

“You would think he had been doing this his whole entire life,” said Jeff Winebaugh, a veteran tow truck operator and employee at Patriot Towing. “From the time his feet hit the floor in the morning, till when he went to bed, even when he went to bed, he was wide open.” ly involved with assisting community members and first responders, often ing a hand to being a big advocate and supporter of BackStoppers, an organization that supports families sion in Pauk’s honor was all about the

“Time goes on; [but] he won’t be ting involved with BackStoppers or donating to help the family are ways everyone can continue to show support and remember Pauk.

Source: fox2now.com

NY Tow Company Must Pay Restitution

Bobby’s Towing and Recovery in Poughkeepsie, New York, was found guilty of predatory tow practices in a lawsuit brought about by the NY Attorney General, Letitia James, at the Dutchess County Supreme Court, and will have to pay restitution.

According to court documents, the Attorney General’s office began an investigation into the towing company after receiving numerous complaints from people who claimed they were treated unfairly by owner, Robert Scores, and his towing company.

Charges against the company include:

-Patrolling illegally parked vehicles.

-Towing vehicles when the owner was present and willing to move the vehicle.

-Falsifying tow tickets as to the justification

-Excessive cost and time of the tow

-Towing vehicles that were legally parked and shifting the burden of proving the justification for the tow onto the vehicle owners

-Not making the vehicles available for redemption and charging excessive storage fees

-Refusing to take credit cards

The ruling was handed down on June 1, and required owner Robert Scores to pay restitution to all affect- ed consumers. The ruling also bans Scores from the towing business unless he pays a $100,000 bond as well as $20,000 to the State in penalties.

Source: danburycountry.com

California Tower Struck and Killed

A tow truck driver was hit and killed by a passing vehicle on May 31, as he was helping a stranded motorist on the I-5 freeway near Glendale, California.

According to the California

Highway Patrol (CHP), towman Presiliano Chavez, 41, was stopped on the southbound side of the highway, helping a stranded driver. As he was attempting to load the vehicle onto his tow truck, he was struck by a passing Nissan Versa.

The woman driving the Nissan, identified as Rachel Fewings, and the driver of the disabled vehicle, both remained at the scene, and cooperated with officers, CHP said. Investigators said alcohol and/or drugs were not suspected to be a factor in the crash. The cause of the collision remains under investigation.

Source towforce.net

Remembering Christopher Russell with Memorial

Towers came out in large numbers to light up the night with their tow trucks in remembrance of Connecticut towman Christopher Russell, who was struck and killed one year ago.

“What you see tonight is a show of the person he was, all the support he did for the community and everyone trying to pay it back to him,” said Harley Garcia of RTT LLC Towing & Transportation.

“The tow community is great. Like brothers and sisters all the time,” added Katie Napolitan, a former coworker of Russell.

Russell had just finished work when the 38-year old stopped to help a driver on Route 91 in North Haven.

“He was a really nice guy. Always ready to help the next person,” said Jordan Clarke, a former coworker of Russell.

Police say that Luis Resto, the driver of the vehicle that struck Russell, is facing charges in - cluding manslaughter.

The memorial for Russell was even bigger than the one from a year ago.

“If they weren’t throwing this I’d be sitting at home on the couch crying like a cow who lost her calf,” said Lisa Wroniak, mother of Russell. “And instead I’m here hearing stories about him and we’re just celebrating his kindness.”

Towmen also converged to spread the word to the motoring public to slow down and move over.

Source: nbcconnecticut.com

Major Bridge Collapses in Philadelphia

A section of a bridge on I-95 in Philadelphia collapsed due to a fire that ignited from an overturned tanker loaded with 8500 gallons of gasoline. While exiting an off-ramp, the driver, Nathaniel Moody, 53, lost control, which caused the tanker to overturn.

“It landed on its side and ruptured the tank and ignited the fire,” stated Pennsylvania’s transportation secretary, Mike Carroll. He said there ◀