American Towing and Recovery Institute onThe Go
American Towing and Recovery Institute onThe Go
From Fatal Crashes to Legal Battles: This Week in Towing Industry Headlines
The dangers facing tow truck operators and the evolving strategies to protect them take center stage in this eye-opening episode of Towing News. We explore multiple tragic incidents, including a Kentucky case where a truck driver has been indicted for murder after allegedly watching YouTube videos before fatally striking tow operator Troy Caldwell. The driver now faces serious charges including evidence tampering and has a warrant out for his arrest after missing court appearances.
Our coverage extends globally with news of a devastating Mother's Day accident in South Africa that claimed nine lives when a tow truck rear-ended a vehicle carrying church members. These incidents underscore the critical importance of attentive driving and the vulnerability of roadside workers.
We also examine innovative enforcement approaches in Kalamazoo, Michigan, where authorities are tackling disruptive "X-Train" mobile parties through a new towing ordinance. This strategy allows police to immediately impound vehicles without court orders, imposing $300 fees on owners and creating a streamlined system for handling repeat offenders. The approach represents a significant shift from previous enforcement methods that often left officers outnumbered and unable to effectively disperse these gatherings.
The consequences of impaired driving are highlighted through the sentencing of Jason Guerin to 4-12 years for a crash that severely injured both a state trooper and tow truck driver in Malta, New York. We also provide practical hazmat response guidance from expert Perry Beatty, covering essential equipment requirements for towing professionals responding to accidents involving hazardous materials. His emphasis on being "combat ready" offers valuable insight for industry professionals seeking to improve their emergency response capabilities.
Listen now to understand the challenges facing the towing industry and the evolving strategies being implemented to protect workers and communities. Share your thoughts on these developments and let us know what safety measures you believe would most effectively protect roadside workers.
I'm Wesley Wilburn and this is Towing News. Now Our first story takes us to Kentucky, in Bath County, where a truck driver accused of watching YouTube before a deadly crash indicted for murder of tow truck operator.
Speaker 2:The story is new. At noon. A Kentucky grand jury indicted a New York man for murder. Shadman Yulyshev is accused of hitting and killing a tow truck driver, troy Caldwell. The wreck happened on I-64 last September. Ksp says Yulishev was watching YouTube on a tablet when the crash happened. He was also indicted for evidence tampering. Court records say he was released but he didn't show up to his court date last October. He now has a warrant out for his arrest.
Speaker 1:We pray for the family of the tow truck operator and we'll keep you updated on this case. Our next story is an international story out of the town of KwaZulu-Natal in Mpangini, south Africa, where, on Mother's Day, a tow truck rear-ended a backheel, resulting in nine people perishing in a horrific accident. On 6.47 am, a horrific accident claimed the lives of nine people, mostly mothers. This accident, which happened around the N2 northbound on Umtenzidin Toll Plaza, involved a tow truck and a Hyundai H1, which was transporting 24 members of the Zion Christian Church. They were traveling to Dukuduku M Tubatuba and reports show that the tow truck struck the rear end of the Hyundai H1, resulting in fatalities and serious injuries, and we all wish them a speedy recovery, especially for all the families and the members of the Zion Christian Church. Now back to more stories in the States. This story is in Kalamazoo Michigan. Back to more stories in the States. This story is in Kalamazoo, michigan, where police are now tackling disruptive X-Train party of new towing techniques.
Speaker 3:Tonight, a new city ordinance in Kalamazoo could finally put an end to mobile nuisance parties. The large caravans of cars pop up every summer, with drivers blocking off neighborhood streets playing loud music at all hours of the night. Thank you so much for joining us. I'm Jessica Hardhorn.
Speaker 4:Good evening. Thanks for joining us. I'm Andy Dominiani. These mobile nuisance parties are also called X trains and have been a problem plaguing the north side and downtown Kalamazoo, especially for decades. This new ordinance will make it easier for KDPS to impound the cars that are involved. News Channel 3's Autumn Pitcher is joining us live in Kalamazoo Autumn police have been combating and trying to prevent these disruptive gatherings for years, even using drones, as we saw, but it sounds like this towing idea could make a real dent in the problem.
Speaker 5:Yes, last summer police had to get more aggressive and they started impounding vehicles. They tell me they impounded 23 vehicles during mobile nuisance parties. But they say this approach oftentimes took a lot of time and resources. But they hope this new ordinance that is going in front of the city commission tonight helps address those problems and obstacles and finally put a stop to mobile nuisance parties. At two in the morning an officer breaks up a mobile nuisance party at a gas station.
Speaker 1:Car's getting towed. Get out. Yes, it is Get out out of the car.
Speaker 5:It's what officers are up against. Nearly every summer in Kalamazoo, large groups of cards parade through the north side of town, blocking city streets, revving their cars and blasting loud music at all hours of the night. Residents in the past have told us it affects their quality of life.
Speaker 8:It was too much going on in the middle of the night.
Speaker 7:It's really bad. You got people Just up and down the street all night in their cars, drag racing, doing donuts in the middle of the street.
Speaker 5:Police have made efforts to make arrests on foot, but officers are often outnumbered. They've also used drones with license plate readers to track vehicles involved, but last summer their newest approach, towing cars. Police say it helped but took a lot of time and resources. A new proposal, however, going in front of the City Commission, would give police the authority to impound cars right at the scene without always needing a court order. Registered owners are responsible for a hefty $300 towing fee, and if an officer believes a vehicle was involved but are not able to impound it on the scene, they'll instead issue a warning letter to the registered vehicle owner.
Speaker 5:If the vehicle is involved in future incidents, officers can impound it too. Also, under the new ordinance, if officers have to search a property for a vehicle they believe was involved, they can do so by submitting a request to the court for authorization. Police did not do any interviews today because they did not want to sway the opinions of commissioners. Now commissioners will be casting their final vote on the ordinance at tonight's meeting that will begin at 7 pm. Now, if this ordinance is passed, it will take into effect in 10 days. We will have a crew at tonight's meeting and be sure to bring you the very latest.
Speaker 1:Our other story takes us to Malta, new York, where a man was served four to 12 years for a crash that injured a trooper and tow truck driver on the side of the road.
Speaker 6:A man from Malta will spend at least 12 years and as many as 14 behind bars for a crash that nearly killed a state trooper and tow truck driver last fall. Jason Guerin pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicular assault. State police say he had drugs in his system when he crashed into the pair on the Northway near exit 6 in Colony. The trooper had stopped a driver whose car was being towed. Guerin spoke for more than three minutes in court today, apologizing to trooper Nicholas Abendola and tow driver Brett Dempsey.
Speaker 9:I alone deserve the pain and suffering.
Speaker 5:And I am so sorry and absolutely hate myself for making that piss-poor, stupid, selfish, reckless, idiotic decision. I'm sorry and I don't dare ask you for forgiveness.
Speaker 10:Every day, the troopers take their lives into their own hands just doing their routine jobs, and how important it is for us as prosecutors and as their fellow troopers. We need to support one another, and everybody out on the road needs to slow down and watch out for troopers and for crying out loud. Do not get behind the wheel if you're intoxicated.
Speaker 1:Right up to this sentencing, I think it shows how serious impaired driving is taken in this county especially. We are very grateful that Trooper Amendola survived this incident.
Speaker 10:He will live with it for the rest of his life.
Speaker 6:O'Garon stayed at the scene after the crash. He had previous DWI charges. The trooper and truck driver are still recovering from those injuries. Nearly 40 state troopers were in court today as a show of support.
Speaker 9:This is Towing News Now. Responder Network, geared toward the touring and recovery industry with equipment and training for those individuals that respond to accidents, that have fuel spills, cargo mishaps, helping them attain that business through hazmat certification put forth through OSHA.
Speaker 7:Here's your Hazmat hint of the week with Perry Bating Perry. We've had a lot of listeners ask us what are the basic requirements for equipment?
Speaker 9:Well, to respond and be equipped properly, you need to have absorbent material for fluids. There are absorbent materials for hydrocarbons, for acids, some that soaks up all the fluids, some that'll let the water pass, and all you're getting is the impurities plug and patch kits, bales of wheat, straw, grass, seed, so you can go back and reseed what soil you had to treat and possibly excavate and haul away. When it comes to personal protective equipment, you need eye protection, splash suits, particle mask or respirator, eye wash, reflective clothing which is mandatory on the highway safety helmet, different types of gloves. When it comes to the equipment, fluid pumps, overpacked drums Of course it's going to take an air compressor with air hoses, stovals and rakes.
Speaker 9:These have to be what's called intrinsically safe, so that when you're using them you don't cause sparks, and also spark-resistant hand tools, fill containment tools. Then going back to skid steer or backhoe with a dump truck or roll-off containers, power sweeper that enables you to sweep the pavement. And once you get all that put together and understand what it's going to take, I highly promote enclosed trailers over other apparatus to haul the equipment.
Speaker 7:I was going to ask about that because then it's something you could pack away and restock at the end of the. So you do a cleanup and you use a lot of product for that cleanup. When you go back you could just restock it and you're ready for the next.
Speaker 9:Exactly.
Speaker 7:Okay.
Speaker 9:Yeah, and I call that being combat ready. If you have to get ready, you're not ready, that's right.
Speaker 7:All right, there's your Hazmat Hand of the Week with Perry. Beatty Perry, let everybody know how to reach you.
Speaker 9:You can contact me on my toll-free number, 877-356-9767, or email me direct at perry at hazmatrncom. That's Perry. P-e-r-r-y phasmatrn H-A-Z-M-A-T-R-Ncom.
Speaker 1:Next is a follow-up to a past story out of Billings, Montana, where now a judge has claimed that Anderson Towing must be back into the towing truck rotation in the city.
Speaker 11:A Montana judge has agreed to temporarily place Anderson Towing back on the city. A Montana judge has agreed to temporarily place Anderson towing back on the city of Billings Police Department's rotation list after a string of complaints accusing the company of overcharging for tows. We first reported back in March about a Bozeman Hardware Company filing a complaint against Anderson for being overcharged thousands of dollars after a crash. The city suspended Anderson from their rotation. After the state's tow truck resolution complaint committee removed them from the highway patrol's rotation, anderson attorneys agreed that the city violated the company's due process rights and Judge Donald Malloy agreed granting a preliminary injunction to place them back on the list pending final resolution of the case. Well, anderson's compliance manager, rob Lem, says quote we're glad to be back in the rotation. If we would have had the chance to discuss with the city it would have cleared things up and it wouldn't have gone this way.
Speaker 8:There you go, the most recent news on the brand new Towing News Channel. I'll see you next week with more information on the latest news in our industry.