Photo: NIOSH
CASE REPORT NUMBER: 24KY070
ISSUED BY: Kentucky State Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation Program
DATE OF REPORT: July 23, 2025
A 54-year-old tow truck driver with more than 30 years of experience had worked for his employer, a towing company, for five years. On the day of the incident, he responded to a call to recover a disabled SUV on the shoulder of a major four-lane interstate. Upon arriving on scene, he activated his rollback truck’s flashing, roof-mounted amber and clear LED emergency lights, turned on his emergency flashers, and positioned the rollback in front of the disabled SUV – approximately 12 inches inside the fog line on the shoulder of the highway. Visibility was good, the weather was clear and sunny, and he was wearing his Class 1 high-visibility work uniform. After successfully loading the SUV, the victim climbed onto the rollback platform to secure the vehicle with safety straps, placed the vehicle into park and retrieved the SUV keys. As he attempted to step down from the driver’s side of the rollback platform, which was still in its tilted position, a semitruck veered toward the victim on the shoulder of the highway and struck him. The victim was thrown up and forward, striking the door of the SUV in the process. He came to a final rest in the right travel lane of the interstate, approximately 15 feet from the initial point of contact. The owner of the SUV, who was seated in the tow truck, called 911 immediately. Emergency responders arrived and pronounced the victim dead at the scene. The semitruck driver stopped a short distance away after striking the victim. Investigators later determined that the semitruck driver was using an electronic device to watch videos while driving.
To prevent similar occurrences, employers should:
- Implement a policy prohibiting tow truck drivers from performing work on the side of the truck that’s closer to traffic.
- Implement distracted driver policies and provide associated training.
- Implement written safety programs.
McCraren Compliance offers many opportunities in safety training to help circumvent accidents. Please take a moment to visit our calendar of classes to see what we can do to help your safety measures from training to consulting.
Original article published by Safety+Health an NSC publication