American Towing and Recovery Institute onThe Go
American Towing and Recovery Institute onThe Go
Safety, Accountability, And The Stories Shaping Towing Today
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A tow call can feel routine right up until it is not, and this week’s stories show the full emotional range of towing and recovery. We start with devastating news out of Chandler, Arizona, where a tow operator is lost in a fiery crash. We talk through what these scenes look like, why they are so dangerous, and why it matters when bystanders and fellow professionals step in to help even when the outcome is heartbreaking.
From there, we shift into accountability and public trust. We cover a Kansas City case that takes a sudden turn when the state’s key witness is hospitalized, then head to Richmond, Virginia where predatory towing allegations lead to serious prison time. We also unpack a separate Richmond-area report involving a tow truck crash, questions about insurance coverage, and an expired tow driver registration, plus the real-world impact on a small business owner who cannot get back on the road.
We round out the news with towing industry consolidation updates and a look at Cleveland’s proposal to raise impound and related fees, then end on the kind of courage that defines this profession at its best: a Seagoville, Texas tow truck driver who stops, calls 911, and holds onto a man in frigid water until help arrives. If you care about tow operator safety, towing regulations, impound fees, and the future of the towing industry, you will get real headlines and real takeaways here. Subscribe, share this with a tower or dispatcher you respect, and leave us a review so more people can find the show.
Welcome And Summer Industry Roundup
SPEAKER_05Welcome on and all to the Towing News Now podcast. A podcast dedicated to insightful interviews, news stories that affect the towing industry, and a weekly spotlight on towing supplies and equipment. We have two hosts. One of them has been in the business 40 years. The other's his charming wife of many years, who also is the general manager of product supply. No other than Wes and April Wilburn. Wes and April, I turn it over to you.
SPEAKER_06Well, thank you, DJ. As always, I appreciate your kind words. Um feeling good today, bright summer day here in Freightville, North Carolina. We got my beautiful wife, April, with us today. April, how are you doing?
SPEAKER_08I'm doing good. It is a bright sunny day here for a fact, but it went from the 70s in the daytime to the 90s. Yeah. With humidity and uh shower breast pretty much every day, which we need we need the rain. But I'm doing I'm even with the weather, I'm doing I'm doing great. I am doing great.
SPEAKER_06Happy to be here.
SPEAKER_05I am doing fantastic, buddy. Brand new medicine. So it's working and I'm feeling great. And um well, I gotta tell you, here in Atlanta where Chuck and I are, uh, it's been beautiful. It's been really nice out today.
SPEAKER_06Yeah, I think most of the countries have pretty good weather, although there's been some storms in the middle of the country. I know they had the extra tow show after we get up at Lake George, New York, and it looks like they had pretty good weather for that, so we're happy to see that. We've been seeing all our friends up there this last year. We'll we're gonna try to make it up next year. Um, but from what I understand they had a good show, that's that's good to see. I know the Canadian folks are getting together, Joey Gandhi at the Friends of the Podcast talk about it and follow it on Facebook. Looks like they've got a pretty good turnout for a conference up there in the great Toronto area. So, um, it looks like you know a lot of stuff going on. I guess the Wisconsin folks doing their trade show coming up this weekend. They always do it on um around Father's Day weekend. It works real good for them, but here's a great family-oriented show. Um The world is uh water parks are in Wisconsin. Was that Wisconsin Dells maybe?
SPEAKER_09I I think so. Go ahead.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, I was gonna say it is cold. Wisconsin Dells.
SPEAKER_06Nice time of the year to be in the northern tier of the country. It definitely is. Well we're gonna continue with our news format here.
Arizona Tow Operator Lost In Fire
SPEAKER_06Um so we've got several stories today. First one I hate to say is a horrible story to start the news with, but it is what it is. We lost another tow operator in a fire crash out in Chandler, Arizona. Um they they haven't identified the operator, this just happened on June 4th. Just a day or two ago.
SPEAKER_09Yeah, a couple a couple days ago.
SPEAKER_06Couple days ago, by the time you listen to me, a we added on to that.
SPEAKER_03So the East Valley down by Chandler. Uh fiery crash caused a quite the hectic scene. People jumping in to help save someone, just an awful situation.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, Gibby is out near the loop 101 in Ray Road. And Gibby, this is that update that we've been talking about. This just really devastating considering these uh good Samaritans tried so hard. We know unfortunately the man they tried to save did not make it.
SPEAKER_14Yeah, unfortunately, we received that news from DPS. You're right. The driver of that record that was here this morning did not survive those injuries. We were showing you the scar that is left over from that burning wrecker early this morning. And when you see this video, you'll see uh it shows you and it paints a big picture of what happened out here. According to DPS, around three o'clock, that record hit the site of the 101. Now, when we ran into uh the people who stopped by to help out, they tell us that he walked out of that truck and they quickly went into work to try to save him. Unfortunately, uh their efforts did not work.
SPEAKER_15He was walking away from the truck, but he was the body wasn't fired. They were pretty much gone. I used my shirt and we uh believe it was uh SRP or Cox guy from Coff. He had a yeti cooler, he had a full water in the water, just bumped it up in.
SPEAKER_14We I used my shirt to with my fire because it was so kudos to those two for doing what they could to try to help this driver out. Unfortunately, as they mentioned, that man did not survive those injuries, Gina. But you think about what they had to deal with when they come up to the 101 like that and it's burning, and they're doing everything they can to try to save that man. Unfortunately, it was too much. And as you've been showing here over the last 30 minutes, DPS did their best to try to clean this up and get this road going. Now you can see the 101 is back open.
SPEAKER_06Extra prayer for the family, and we hope you rest the gentleman, rest in final peace.
SPEAKER_08And then I also want to say this too. Um, the two gentlemen who tried, you don't know if you can or cannot help. All you could do is the best that you can, and um for them to step up and do what they did. Uh not I know not everybody would do that. And um, I think that's also just chose the best in the management too.
SPEAKER_05Well, the hey Wes, the only thing I would add to what you and April are saying is that when you get a chance to listen to some of the the real heroes in our industry. When I first came and I went to one of the larger conventions and it was amazing how one after another, one hero did this, one hero did that. Uh John Weaver's group uh up in North Georgia, uh, they ran out and put a fire out with fire extinguishers and so forth and pulled the man out. And after they got the man out, the entire car exploded. And I thought to myself, here are two men that work for John Weaver and they it they you know put their life on the line and they saved a human being. So anybody that goes through this in the towing industry, I tip my hat to 'em. I d I just they're very depicted and very wonderful human beings.
SPEAKER_06Yes, I agree. Very special.
SPEAKER_09Yeah, family and friends are up here.
Kansas City Case Delayed By Witness
SPEAKER_09We got another story coming out of Kansas City, Missouri.
SPEAKER_06Police record show Alan J. Bloodworth was arrested last year facing eight funding charges, including four accounts of car death and another four for four. The Jackson County Prosecutors Office called Fox Four on Friday. The state's primary witness in the case is in the hospital and year in court. The witnesses testament is necessary for the state to present evidence of the on the issues for the year. According to the prosecutor's office. The prosecutor's office around Friday afternoon that the case of witness missed without friends to complete additional investigation.
SPEAKER_09I don't know if we call that good luck or bad luck, but it's not it's it's a turn of events, that's for sure. I'll I'll leave it at that.
SPEAKER_06Well, different situations like this, I'll go up town sideways sometimes. Yeah. Speaking of going sideways, my home state of Virginia's gonna know quite a bit about sewing and different situations.
SPEAKER_08But uh what shouldn't we take a break first? Let's take a break. And we'll come back, we'll come back to Virginia.
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Listener Thanks And Where To Listen
SPEAKER_05Welcome back, listeners. Coming from the Tow Equipment Direct Studios, you know this is the number one podcast in the towing and recovery industry. Towing News Now podcast. I want each and every one of you. I want to give a thanks. Each and every one of you. This has been fantastic. You have grown this podcast over 20,000 listeners. And I want to thank you. And I know Wes and April Wilburn feel the same way. Each and every episode, we do our best to bring you informative information. I can use your recruiting today. We're available on Spotify, iTunes, Stitcher, iHeartMedia, or wherever you get your podcast. Remember, we're here for you. And this whole podcast is really directed towards you. So without further ado, back to the towing equipment Direct Studios and West and April Swilburn.
Virginia Predatory Towing Gets Prison Time
SPEAKER_06Thanks, DJ. Our next story comes to us out of Virginia, where there's uh been quite a bit of activity with aggressive uh predatory towing and whatnot.
SPEAKER_08And maybe we should mention that this this part of Virginia is Richmond, Virginia.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_08Which is the state capital. We've both, you know, lived in Virginia, but this is the state capital.
SPEAKER_12The owner of a Richmond towing company will be spending more time behind bars. Thanks for joining us here at 11. I'm Julie Bragg.
SPEAKER_01And I'm Janine Samuel. Cheryl Crawley was sentenced to an additional five years in prison this evening. Crawley is currently serving three and a half years in Caroline County after taking a plea deal on eight charges, including grand larceny. Police say her business l no limit towing unlawfully towed vehicles from private lots. Investigators say the business would then sell or crush the cars instead of holding them.
SPEAKER_12Some cars were even destroyed in just one day. Richmond Commonwealth's attorney Colette McKeachin told us the judge in Richmond, where she also faced charges, went above what the guidelines suggested, sentencing her to five years to serve after serving her time in Caroline, and on top of restitution and supervised probation.
SPEAKER_06And now the update on June 9th, she was sentenced to 47 years with 42 years suspended.
SPEAKER_08Meaning five years of server enrichment, it's um in connection with no limit telling illegal practice.
SPEAKER_06Yeah, Virginians are pretty regulated and they got pretty clearly spelled out how much they can charge and whatnot. Um apparently ration they were doing all that you got to use on it. Oh Lord Yeah. I don't know anyway. Well, so I think we learned one day, obviously. And um they're connected, they used to be married apparently.
SPEAKER_08Yeah, and I'm just gonna say one thing about she was sentenced on June the ninth. I guess probably was already in jail. This incident we're gonna do the video one happened on June the ninth. Uh by all indications of everything that I've read, there's no connection. They've been separate they've been divorced for years, they don't do business together. Um, so apparently they're apparently there are two individuals who just have had some bad uh made some bad choices.
Uninsured Tow Truck Hits Small Business
SPEAKER_18I just feel like the Richmond community should know that there's a company out here driving Ram 4500s around with no insurance.
SPEAKER_19Doing six, a Richmond business owner fed up after a tow truck driver backed into his car. He reached out to the on-your side investigators to get answers. Graham Simpson says his insurance company determined the driver who hit him has no insurance. Thanks for joining us. I'm Kurt Audrey.
SPEAKER_17Um, so yeah, that makes things difficult not having my vehicle because mobile is uh it's important to us.
SPEAKER_16It's been more than a month since Graham Simpson, the owner of Lost Sailor Mobile Bar, has been able to drive his vehicle.
SPEAKER_18There's front uh headlight damage, the hood is damaged, there's uh there's been damage to the thermostat, which has caused electrical problems, which now the car doesn't run.
SPEAKER_16An estimated five to seven thousand dollars worth of damage was done to his S2V. Stimpson says he was in an accident in April at Carey and Cherry Streets with a driver from on-demand telling. Driver denied responsibility, cop showed up, it was uh deep fault. With the star bringing a calendar full of events and weddings, Simpson says it was important to get repairs done to continue its work. What the small business owner hoped would be a somewhat simple claim, Simpson says it's frustrating. But it has been determined by the driver's uninsurance. Despite a police report showing the at fault driver's insurance listed as progressive, Simpson started his own investigation, trying to get in touch with the owner of On Demand Telling listed as Andre Crowley.
SPEAKER_18I showed up there as a bottom on your item.
SPEAKER_16A search on the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services database shows the driver on the police report, Andre Crowley Jr. is listed as having an expired tow truck driver's registration. According to Virginia law, a tow truck driver failing to register with the Department of Criminal Justice Services could be found guilty of a misdemeanor. Since as an insurance carrier Geico is still investigating, that's why he is still waiting for his car to be repaired. Since it says the company told him it is requesting footage of that crash, which was captured by a VP camera.
SPEAKER_18That's okay.
SPEAKER_16The on your side investigators first called on demand towing to speak with the owner. I've done some investigating and found out that you have a tow truck driver who is not even a registered driver with you guys. We also went to the business in South Richmond and were told the owner was not available. So we left a business card.
SPEAKER_18I mean, and me being a local business owner myself, it's also a little unfair. It's uh, you know, I try to do the right thing. But I just feel like the Richmond community should know that there's a company out here driving Ram 4500s around with no insurance.
SPEAKER_16I reached out to the tow truck driver involved directly, but he has not returned my multiple messages at this point. The last one was sent about 20 minutes ago. Simpson says this situation has impacted his business, and he's simply asking the towing company to reach a resolution.
SPEAKER_06It's unfortunate because it's a small business owner. This is probably time a year he does a lot of business with everyone.
SPEAKER_08June is uh historically a big wedding month.
SPEAKER_06Sure.
Consolidation News And Press Releases
SPEAKER_06We also have an announcement from um guardian where the telling the trade. Black cat Bad Cat quarters out the investment according to that transport. Investments are changed affiliations and acquisitions that brought it to actual financial terms and transactional matches. Capital is used for several reasons. Proto, Trump telling, B and W tire, I'm telling, and other outrights. Oh yeah, there's definitely several different groups. So all the consolidators listening listening, we'll absolutely love to uh read your press releases. You just gotta send them to us. Uh you can make arrangements by calling our office 910-747-9000. We'll give you all the information. Uh send us information on your press release. All right, I think we're at a good point to take a break.
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SPEAKER_05Welcome back, listeners, and I thank you. And of course, Wes and April Wilburn, thank you for all our wonderful listeners here on the Towing News Now podcast. This episode is really bringing all of us together, and that's the reason why we call the studio the towing equipment direct studio. So coming from the studio, and just like Wes said a minute ago, if any of you have fresh releases that you would like to share with the community, by all means, why not put it on the number one podcast for the community for towing and recovery? Just dial we have a studio number, but you can dial the office 910-747-9000. Alright, now remember, please like and review every time you get a chance. Share with all your friends. And by all means, we have a hotline in the studio. So if you want to, if you feel up to it and you want to make some suggestions or give us some tips or let us know about something going on in your state association. 706-409-5603. 706-409-5603. And without further ado, back to the Tony Equipment Direct Studios with Wes and April Wilbur.
Cleveland Debates Higher Impound Fees
SPEAKER_06Alright, our next call comes to us out of Cleveland, Ohio. The city is once again looking to raise fees for drivers from vehicles to go to the city in pound o'clock. So owners of sold vehicles will avoid the price height. New legislation that passed would raise the standard time fee from $125 to $190. It would also raise the price of some extra fees, such as would the search drivers need to use a flatbed or change the tire to make the selling vehicle possible. So the one ninety I question if that's even enough. It's probably just an arbitrary number grabbed out of the air. But um at least when a a big city changes their rates, it helps the rates in the whole area. But it is again again a shame. I wonder how many went, you know, where the one ninety came from. Probably just an arbitrary number.
SPEAKER_08Well, this next thing is um it's something that kinda happened the first of the year, and I only unfortunately just not caught on to it, but I'm glad now to bring it to everybody.
Texas Tow Driver Saves A Life
SPEAKER_08Uh this is out of uh Sigaville, Texas. And DJ earlier in the podcast talked about how the heroics of the tow truck driver, and I'm gonna say that when a driver pulls up to a scene, when a regular call, he doesn't he knows the towing part of it. But every scene could uh every scene that he pulls up to can be an unknown situation to him. Uh in this situation, it wasn't something that he was called to do. This was something that he came up came upon.
SPEAKER_04I was just scared. Like I didn't know what to do.
SPEAKER_11There's a muddy drainage culvert off Highway 175 in Seagaville. Yes, sir. Most people would drive right by. Tow truck driver Douglas Lane is not most people.
SPEAKER_04It was right there, and I just reached in there and grabbed the hoax of whatever I could grab.
SPEAKER_11Days ago, this area was covered in ice, and Douglass was clinging to a man who had fallen into the frigid water.
SPEAKER_10With the hood of his wet turned up water.
SPEAKER_11Steve Davis's body cam was rolling as Douglas held on.
SPEAKER_18He was at the rock place at the rock for sure.
SPEAKER_11It's not clear how the man ended up here. Douglas said he saw a car in the middle of the road, pulled over, and heard shouting from the water. I called them and dialed 911 and then he gave up, fighting to stay up above the water.
SPEAKER_04I reached in there, I said, No, you're not gonna do that. Grab the hose of whatever I could grab.
SPEAKER_11For several minutes, he waited for more police to arrive.
SPEAKER_04He's about 130 pounds, drop, but he felt like he was about 300, 350 at least. We gotta get him out.
SPEAKER_11For not giving up, uh, for doing something most people and giving this man a fighting chance.
SPEAKER_04Uh to act as in my mind say that was live. Yeah, I wasn't trying to get any kind of extra credit for it. I was just doing what I know best and that's helping others.
SPEAKER_11In Seagavil, I'm Luke Clary.
SPEAKER_08It dawns on me that did we started off with fire and we're kind of ending with water. Um either either one could be a miracle or it could be a disaster. And in these two situations, thank goodness that dri that that tow truck driver pulled up on that car. He said that um he just was just doing what came naturally. His grandmother had taught him, you know, uh instilled this in him. And he just that was something he automatically did. And I told Wes earlier when I listened to this, I was like, anybody that seen a man drowning would probably intervene, but almost nobody that would see that car would stop and see uh a car and let me see what's going on. It would go around it. He'd seen the car and he stopped and that and he heard the crash from uh the water and he and he saved him.
SPEAKER_06Yeah, Douglas Lane is the gentleman's name. He used to be commanded for his quick thinking time response. Turn to David Daniel by saving us and the acting police chief.
Fathers Day Shoutout And Sign Off
SPEAKER_06He gave Douglas credit and accolade and uh did a real good job of communicating, and I'm glad you recognized recognize all the fathers out there, Father's Day is coming up uh this weekend, but they don't want to go listen to this podcast. Uh a lot of people listen to them the first day they come out, we definitely appreciate that. Uh but uh we just want to recognize and hands off to all the hardworking fathers out there.
SPEAKER_08And if you happen to be listening to this after Father's Day, so happy Father's Day. Thank you doing a good job with your kids, and uh we we appreciate you.
SPEAKER_06So that's the news that we have for this week. Uh thanks for listening, folks. We hope to see y'all soon in the towing equipment direct dot com studio. Thanks for listening. We'll be back next week.