May 1, 2025 • 24 mins
Tragedy struck the towing industry multiple times in recent weeks as three tow operators lost their lives while performing roadside assistance. These deaths underscore the critical importance of Move Over laws that many drivers continue to ignore despite the fatal consequences.
From the heartbreaking stories of Ken Sopasto in Florida and Richard Rodriguez in New York—both killed while working roadside—to the harrowing account of an Oklahoma City tower who narrowly escaped death when his quick-thinking colleague pulled him from a burning truck, this episode explores the very real dangers towing professionals face daily. As one veteran tower put it, "You can wear all the fluorescent you want, have all the fancy flashing lights, have all the trucks behind you. All it takes is that one person not to pay attention."
Beyond safety concerns, the episode delves into troubling legal issues plaguing the industry. In Kansas City, a mother-son duo faces 18 felony charges for allegedly conducting illegal tows, falsifying documents, and harassing vehicle owners. Meanwhile, in Australia, a woman received a shocking $5,000 bill for a routine tow—a predatory practice exploiting regulatory loopholes. The violence directed at towing operators continues as well, with three tow trucks mysteriously set ablaze overnight in Brampton, Ontario.
It's not all grim news, however, as Montana recently passed legislation giving towing vehicles preference in roundabouts, acknowledging the unique challenges these vehicles face. The American Towing Recovery Institute also announced numerous upcoming training opportunities across the country, including specialized sessions for handling electric vehicles through their new EV Clever app.
As we wrap each episode, the message becomes increasingly urgent: stay on the passenger side of your truck, remain vigilant, and prioritize safety above all else. The towing industry shouldn't have to count more fallen colleagues simply because drivers can't be bothered to move over or slow down. Have you witnessed drivers ignoring Move Over laws? What will it take to change this deadly behavior?
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
you're on the train to success with april and wes
wilburn.
I'm dj harrington, the co-host,better known as the toe doctor.
We're all on our way to thetown of proper towing and
recovery, along with ourproducer, chuck camp, in the
studio.
Don't go to the town of woulda,coulda, shoulda.
(00:25):
You coulda had done this.
You should have done that.
Listen every week tothought-provoking wisdom from
great guests.
So if you have Spotify, itunes,pandora, stitcher, iheartmedia
or the number one podcast, ormaybe Amazon or wherever you get
(00:50):
your podcasts, turn in onWednesday and be turned on all
week long.
If you are a state associationand want your announcements or
upcoming state association newsannouncements or upcoming state
association news or maybe aco-show that's coming up, let us
(01:10):
know.
Our podcast studio phone numberis 706-409-5603.
I'm proud to be part of a greatteam at the american dorm
recovery institute.
Let's make 2025 our best yearever.
I will turn it to April and WesApril how's everything going
there?
Speaker 3 (01:29):
Everything is going great here.
We are rocking and rolling.
It's the spring of the year, sowe're loaded up with passes.
Wes is actually this week toget yesterday, today and
tomorrow, so this will air aweek later.
But as of April the 22nd, 23,and tomorrow, so this will air a
week later.
But as of April the 22nd, 23rdand 24th, he's doing some
(01:50):
classes for the State TowingAssociation.
I'm going to say the state Ialways say it so badly
Massachusetts.
I cannot say that state, andhe's doing that right now.
So Wesley came in and hijackedthe podcast studio.
He's going to take over for hiszero dad.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
Fantastic.
Wesley is one of the sharpestyoung men I know and I know that
when he starts teaching all hisstudents will love Mr Wilburn.
Speaker 4 (02:22):
Thank you for that DJ .
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Well, you'll be a great teacher.
I know that for a fact, MrWilburn.
Thank you for that, DJ.
Well, you'll be a great teacher.
I know that for a fact, Wesley.
So I guess you and I aretalking about your dad's up in
Massachusetts teaching April'sthere.
So tell us a little bit aboutwhat we got looking forward to
(02:44):
in this episode.
Speaker 4 (02:46):
Well, we got going to do a little talking, with me
Going to do some news in alittle bit and we'll go over the
schedule, you know scheduleupdated classes and whatnot.
Speaker 3 (02:58):
So yeah, I think that's all we have for today,
Anything else.
Yeah, Wesley's got some reallygood stories that he's been
doing research on and those willcome up.
And then the last three weekswe've been playing I call it
calendar bingo as far as puttingclasses on the calendar and
then moving it around and thesame business we could hear.
(03:20):
So that schedule that we had asof a month ago needs to get
redone because there's been somuch more added to it, and
that's exciting for us.
We're always happy to be busy,but we seem to be this year
busier than ever, and that's ahuge credit to Wes Wilburn,
who's the name and he's the face.
He's basically the guy thateverybody wants to come and see.
(03:46):
We're just happy to be here tohelp him get that moved along.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
Now April.
I want to tell our listenersthey had over about 150
attendees at the Florida ToeShow in your class we had dozens
and dozens and dozens of them,and then we also made a special
announcement.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
That's kind of still in the works, so when that all
does like play out we will comeback on and we'll do a whole
episode on that too, but that'sanother exciting thing that
we're looking forward to in ourvery, very near future.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
Oh yeah, well, I heard the Florida Toe Show for
you guys was fantastic.
It was very.
I enjoyed it.
I've met so many good peopleand we got reunited with a bunch
of people I've known over theyears.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
Isn't it something with that show?
I'm always happy to go, whetheror not we do an event, whether
or not we exhibit there or justwe're just attendees for it.
It is like a big family reunion.
When you go, People you don'tget to see all year, and if you
can't go you got to skip a year.
That's two more years inbetween Santa.
And it's just it's anundertaking to get there.
(05:02):
But once you're there it justkind of feels like it's a little
bit at home, even though you'refar away from your home.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
Well, I know one thing you and I and Wes had a
great visit with Day Rochester,our newest sponsor.
Yeah, she's a new sponsor, butwe had a great time at her home,
didn't she?
Speaker 3 (05:26):
Oh my goodness, Her humble abode, her very humble
abode.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
And the food.
Poor Westby wasn't there, butWestby, I'm going to tell you
this guy, I love the food.
There was barbecue, there wasall.
It was a buffet of buffets.
It was excellent.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
And the two years ago that I went before it was the
catered meal and it was verygood, it was delicious.
You were there to that one also.
This one here I liked a littlebit better because it was just
more home down, you could eatyour food, go back and get
another serving and it was justgood fellowship.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
Yes, and it was a great time.
Yeah, A couple of years ago shehad the presidential chef a
chef from the president's WhiteHouse actually came and cooked
and it was more formal.
Speaker 4 (06:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
It was good food.
It was great food.
Yeah, it was good food.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
It was great food I agree with you, but this food
was excellent.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
It was informal, it was casual, it was just like if
you went to a family reunion.
Yeah, it was just a very nicegathering.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
Yeah, I thought it was.
It was just a.
It was a very nice gathering.
Yeah, it was.
I thought it was great.
She's, she's a real hostess andmade everybody feel right at
home, and no matter whether youhad a gigantic tow facility or
you only have one or two trucks,she made you feel like you were
the king for the night.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
And I'm going to tell you another thing that Gay
Rochester did for me, and thiswas the next day the Ladies
Luncheon, which is always a bigevent, emily has been able to go
a couple of times because we'renormally doing something when
we're there, so I had the luxuryof attending that.
She invited me to their table,which was a resort table, and
she saved a seat for me to sitwith her, like right beside her
(07:30):
oh my yeah, that seat was rightthere.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
You know, everybody wants to step aside, gay yes,
and I saw Ruthie Landau earlierthat day, all dressed up in her
leopard outfit yeah yeah she wasa hot seat, hot seat, oh, she
did she is the best.
Ruthie does a wonderful job inthat ladies luncheon and that's
(07:53):
another one.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
I've seen her eight times from the beginning of us
getting there until we left.
Every time I've seen her, shewalked up to me and hugged me.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
She's a wonderful.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
No, she's such a wonderful person.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
She and her husband are just wonderful people and
they really are a key factor inFlorida.
They're just good people.
Rochester surrounds herselfjust good people.
Hey, Rochester, surroundyourself with good people.
But it was good seeing you andWes and I enjoyed breaking bread
with you.
I sat right opposite you guysat the big table there, so it
was nice.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
Yeah, and then I just wanted to do one shout-out to
Mike Seaman, who runs that show,and I don't even know.
We did a little show in MyrtleBeach.
That was like a tenth of thatand we knew what that
undertaking was, and for him topull this off every year is
phenomenal and he treated us sowell when we were there.
He had other things to do andhe had other considerations, but
(08:50):
when it came down to it he madesure that we were looked after.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
You got it.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
All right, let's take a quick break and we will come
back with our very special guestwho has hijacked the podcast
booth with Wesley Wilburn.
Speaker 6 (09:08):
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Speaker 1 (10:20):
Welcome back listeners.
Of course you know you'relistening to the number one
podcast the.
American Towing RecoveryInstitute podcast, and this is a
special edition.
This is my time now to ask forthe voice of Wes Wilburn.
Best looking son Wesley Wesley,how are you?
(10:41):
I'm doing well, dj.
Speaker 5 (10:43):
Thank you for that introduction.
We have a story out of KansasCity of Metro Towing company
owner and mother who has beenlegally towing cars.
Falsifying forms now face 18felonies.
Speaker 7 (10:56):
Some major allegations that came to light
from the Jackson CountyProsecutor's Office against
Metro Tow and Transport.
So take a look here.
Donald Adamson owns Metro Towand Transport and his mother,
Lynette, is an employee at thebusiness.
Both are charged with stealing,forgery and harassment.
Prosecutors accused the two oftowing vehicles illegally
(11:19):
without proper authorization,falsifying forms and trying to
block owners from getting theircars back.
Now, according to courtdocuments, Kansas City police
received numerous complaintsabout the company over the years
.
This is a very frustratingsituation for so many people and
some are happy to see somelegal action.
(11:40):
This mother and son duo havebeen allegedly taking advantage
of people for years.
That's according to theprosecutor's office and KCPD.
As they say, hundreds ofcomplaints have piled up, like
high fees, people having a hardtime getting their car back and
even people who claim they stoletheir car.
These court documents allegeMetro tow submitted paperwork on
(12:02):
towed cars with copies ofsignatures rather than an actual
signature that is required bylaw.
We met Lucas Diaz while he wastrying to get his car back.
He's frustrated.
As he says it was towed Tuesdaymorning from a spot he parks in
often.
Speaker 8 (12:17):
I was not notified.
I had to call.
They were signs were notclearly displayed.
I was to call.
They were signs displayed thatI was parc.
He got told I have to cal washere he then had to.
Speaker 7 (12:33):
So I went up to the office a comment and before I co
nothing to say, ok, thank you.
Now we reached out to the cityto find out what the next steps
are for this business, as it isstill open and have not heard
back at this time since news hascome out, more alleged victims
(12:54):
have came out with claimsranging from bad tolls, illegal
car sales to even hit and runs.
Speaker 5 (13:00):
Will keep you updated on the story.
Here's a story of predatorytowing out of Perth, australia,
of a woman facing egregiouscharges.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
Perth is a driving city.
People rely on their cars andevery day hundreds need their
vehicle towed when they breakdown or crash.
Lisa dinged her car on thegarage door at home in Perth
South.
She then drove it to work in aneighbouring suburb where a tow
truck picked it up.
She then got a bill for $5,000.
(13:31):
That was four weeks ago.
The tow company still has hercar locked in their yard.
The government recently set alimit of $485 as the fee for
towing a car from a crash in themetro area.
The company stinging Lisa fivegrand says it isn't breaking any
rules because Lisa's car waspicked up at work 13km from her
(13:53):
home where she hit the garagedoor.
Under the rules, the price capapplies for towies collecting a
car from within two kilometresof a crash site.
When a tow truck arrived shethought it was sent by her
insurer, rac.
It wasn't.
Lisa signed a release form fromKing Tow without a specified
price, but she didn't read thefine print which warned she
(14:15):
could be charged up to $7,000.
She doesn't know how King Towgot her details or how the
business even knew she needed atow.
Look, I can't comment onindividual cases, but I know
that they have been working withthe operator to try and get
their car back and we areproviding assistance.
Rac wouldn't go into specificsbut said unfortunately there
(14:37):
remain unregulated spaces wherewe are seeing instances of
unreasonable behaviour andpractices by some towing
operators.
The Department of Transportsays it is unacceptable that
rogue tow truck operators arestill finding ways to exploit
innocent motorists.
Speaker 5 (14:54):
Now King's Towing is a small, family-owned business
and say these charges are to bepaid by RAC.
Now Kings and RAC is now in alegal dispute and we'll keep you
updated on the case.
Here's another story about thetow truck violence happening in
Ontario, this time in Brampton,with three tow trucks being set
(15:15):
on fire overnight.
Speaker 10 (15:16):
We begin with a concerning incident taking place
in Peel Region.
Emergency crews in Brampton hada busy night after three
separate tow trucks were set onfire.
Peel Police say that two of thetow truck fires occurred on
Buffridge Trail around 1 am,while the third truck was set on
fire on nearby Venetian Terrterrace shortly after.
(15:40):
Our camera is capturing theaftermath of that Now.
Luckily, no injuries have beenreported, but all three fires
are now under investigation andare considered suspicious.
One of the trucks was set onfire while parked in a driveway
and neighbors say it soundedlike a bomb went off.
Speaker 5 (15:59):
Police at this time say the three are not linked
together, but we'll keep youupdated on the case.
These next two stories show thesad side of towing with deaths
while doing your job.
This story is out of Florida onUS 27, where tow truck operator
Ken Sopasto lost his life.
Speaker 11 (16:20):
Ken Sopasto was more than just a tow truck driver.
He was a cherished friend andmentor to many in LaBelle and
across southwest Florida, andnews of his passing has sparked
outrage and sorrow.
Speaker 8 (16:30):
This shouldn't have happened, but the towing
industry is becoming to be oneof the most dangerous industries
you can be in anymore.
Speaker 11 (16:37):
Shane Freed a friend who told me Ken was more like
family issues you can be inanymore.
Speaker 8 (16:42):
Shane Freed, a friend who told me Ken was more like
family.
We used to play together in thewoods, we built trucks together
and just played in the mud, andwe built businesses together
and it's a whole other family,you know, and he's just an
amazing person.
Speaker 11 (17:01):
Troopers say Sospato was killed on US Highway 27 in
Highland County on Monday whenhe was stopped in outside of his
tow truck when a vehicle veeredto the right and struck him and
something a longtime tow truckdriver said that this should not
happen with Florida's move overlaw which requires drivers to
either change lanes or reducetheir speed when approaching
emergency vehicles or roadsideworkers, but says he knows
firsthand about the dangers onthe road Been hit on the
(17:23):
shoulder twice, or on the sideof the road twice, and I've
probably gotten hit by aboutfive mirrors.
And that's why this law is soimportant to follow.
Speaker 9 (17:32):
People.
Not paying attention makes ourlife that much harder at work
and riskier.
You can wear all thefluorescent you want, you have
all the fancy flashing lightsthat you want, you have all the
trucks behind you.
All it takes is that one personnot to pay attention.
Speaker 5 (17:50):
This one comes out of Long Island, New York.
Richard Rodriguez, federal towtruck operator, was fatally
struck when helping an SUV onthe side of the road on Sunrise
Highway.
Speaker 12 (18:02):
Now know a tow truck driver was killed in a crash
that shut down parts of SunriseHighway for hours.
In Bayshore, 32-year-oldRichard Rodriguez was hit while
trying to load a broken down caronto a tow truck yesterday.
Police say he was standing onthe shoulder of the westbound
lanes near Brentwood Road around1.30 when 38-year-old Anthony
Lacalze hit him.
(18:23):
That driver was not hurt.
Rodriguez died at that scene.
Speaker 5 (18:26):
Howsey hit him.
That driver was not hurt.
Rodriguez died at that scene.
Richard was a father of twodaughters and we pray for all of
the families of fallen towoperators.
Here's a surprising story outof Oklahoma City where a tow
truck driver credits hisco-worker for saving his life
during a fiery crash when atruck hit a tow truck's gas tank
, setting the car on a blaze.
Speaker 13 (18:52):
If it wasn't for my co-worker and God, I probably
wouldn't be here.
His co-worker, Mason, wasfollowing him in another tow
truck on the way to a call inOKC.
Just seconds after thecollision at Southwest 44th and
Rancho Drive, Mason knew hedidn't have much time.
Speaker 8 (19:04):
He rushed over, opened my door and helped me out
and I asked him I'm like man,what happened?
He said this truck just cameout of nowhere and hit you.
I was like where did he comefrom?
I never saw him, never saw hislights.
Speaker 9 (19:17):
I parked the truck as fast as I could and rushed over
there and got him out and madesure he was okay breathing alive
.
Speaker 13 (19:28):
Oklahoma City police say the suspect driver in the
pickup that caused the crash wasinvolved in another crash at
Southwest 44th and Blackwelderbut left the scene.
The driver kept running stopsigns and eventually slammed
into Corey's tow truck.
Speaker 8 (19:38):
I went to grab the steering wheel to pull myself up
, to find out what happened andI was covered in flames and
smoke and all I see in my trucklooked like I was in a tornado.
I was just spinning.
Speaker 13 (19:49):
Mason said the firefighters were there
extremely fast but he knew hehad to go through fire to save
his friend.
Speaker 9 (19:56):
I think the only part that was not on fire was that
passenger door.
Able to get my hand around thathandle.
That was it.
Speaker 13 (20:02):
Now.
The two people in that pickuptruck did not survive.
They later passed away at thehospital.
However, corey and Mason wereboth back at work the next day
and once again, they were notinjured.
Speaker 5 (20:12):
We end this segment with news out of Montana, where
a House bill unanimously passedaddressing how vehicles
approached roundabouts, addingstipulations into the law giving
preference for vehicles haulingor towing.
The Senate Bill 433 brought bySenator Teresa Manzella,
republican out of Hamilton,changes regulations for how
(20:34):
vehicles approach roundabouts.
Hauling or towing vehicles willlegally be allowed to deviate
from their lane to move througha traffic circle.
Other vehicles in theroundabout must yield to hauling
vehicles.
The bill will also have animpact on double lane
roundabouts which can be used onfour-lane highways.
It allows trailers to legallydeviate from one of the lanes.
(20:55):
After a final procedureapproval in the House, the bill
will head to the Governor's desk.
This is Towing News Now.
Speaker 1 (21:03):
Boy Towing news channel is getting bigger and
bigger and the towing newswesley did a great job this
episode, but we're gonna havethe upcoming dates and we'll
listen to them right now comingup well.
Speaker 4 (21:20):
First of all, we just got back from massachusetts.
I did three night classesthanks scott perlow from Rapid
Recovery in New York.
He rode along with me, helpedme get there, helped make the
classes a whole lot better, camehome and gave me a bunch of
ideas and not only ideas, butthe factual information to back
it up, to make that four houreasy training and certification
(21:47):
class that we just introduced,Make that thing really, really
pop.
And we're going to do anotherone of those coming up here at
the end of May in Thomasville,North Carolina.
We're also going to be in StLouis, Missouri, for a one-day
light duty on May the 16th, 17th, 18th, which is a Saturday
Sunday.
It's going to be a two-dayheavy.
17th 18th, which is a SaturdaySunday.
(22:07):
It's going to be a two-dayheavy.
We're also going to be at theNew York Toe Show, the Esther
Show we're going to do theauction on Friday night.
Sponsor that again, we're happyto be there to do that.
And Wednesday night we'reputting together a date for
Albany, new York, for thatfour-hour electric vehicle class
.
So for Raphael, one of ourattendees there at the math
(22:30):
class, we'll bring it up to NewYork while we're there doing the
show as well Then we're also inOhio June 20th for the evening
class in the evening and 21-22for the two-day heavy duty.
Medford, oregon is July 18th forlight duty, 19th and 20th for
(22:51):
heavy duty and we've got a bunchmore dates past that.
We'll kind of go over them nexttime we're together.
I thank our listeners.
We're going to hang around.
Speaker 14 (23:03):
For electric and other alternative fuel vehicles.
We have developed an app thatgives you all the manufacturer's
411 for when that 911 happens,whether you are a fire tow or
police, we got you covered.
Speaker 5 (23:16):
To find the EV Clever app, go to your Apple or Google
Play store for a 30-day freetrial the National Tow Operator
Certification, an independentlysourced virtual testing program
covering light duty, heavy duty,electric and alternative fuel
vehicle.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
So, april, as we come to the end of this podcast,
what's one of the things youwant to remind all of our
listeners?
Speaker 3 (23:41):
In this podcast we have highlighted, unfortunately,
at least three tow or downdeaths that's happened in the
last week and a half, Week toweek and a half.
So my emphasis on this isplease, everybody, please, if
you can't, stay on thatpassenger side of the truck and
(24:02):
be safe and be careful.
Speaker 4 (24:04):
Boy, I agree with you April.
Speaker 1 (24:06):
This was an episode that touched on a lot of tragedy
in our industry.
We all know we can prevent itby safety.
Safety comes first.
We want everyone to come hometo their loved ones every night
when they leave and if Wentz wason the podcast he'd say be safe
(24:27):
out there and we'll see younext time.
On the Koei News.
Speaker 4 (24:30):
Channel Podcast.
you're on the train to success with april and wes
wilburn.
I'm dj harrington, the co-host,better known as the toe doctor.
We're all on our way to thetown of proper towing and
recovery, along with ourproducer, chuck camp, in the
studio.
Don't go to the town of woulda,coulda, shoulda.
(00:25):
You coulda had done this.
You should have done that.
Listen every week tothought-provoking wisdom from
great guests.
So if you have Spotify, itunes,pandora, stitcher, iheartmedia
or the number one podcast, ormaybe Amazon or wherever you get
(00:50):
your podcasts, turn in onWednesday and be turned on all
week long.
If you are a state associationand want your announcements or
upcoming state association newsannouncements or upcoming state
association news or maybe aco-show that's coming up, let us
(01:10):
know.
Our podcast studio phone numberis 706-409-5603.
I'm proud to be part of a greatteam at the american dorm
recovery institute.
Let's make 2025 our best yearever.
I will turn it to April and WesApril how's everything going
there?
Speaker 3 (01:29):
Everything is going great here.
We are rocking and rolling.
It's the spring of the year, sowe're loaded up with passes.
Wes is actually this week toget yesterday, today and
tomorrow, so this will air aweek later.
But as of April the 22nd, 23,and tomorrow, so this will air a
week later.
But as of April the 22nd, 23rdand 24th, he's doing some
(01:50):
classes for the State TowingAssociation.
I'm going to say the state Ialways say it so badly
Massachusetts.
I cannot say that state, andhe's doing that right now.
So Wesley came in and hijackedthe podcast studio.
He's going to take over for hiszero dad.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
Fantastic.
Wesley is one of the sharpestyoung men I know and I know that
when he starts teaching all hisstudents will love Mr Wilburn.
Speaker 4 (02:22):
Thank you for that DJ .
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Well, you'll be a great teacher.
I know that for a fact, MrWilburn.
Thank you for that, DJ.
Well, you'll be a great teacher.
I know that for a fact, Wesley.
So I guess you and I aretalking about your dad's up in
Massachusetts teaching April'sthere.
So tell us a little bit aboutwhat we got looking forward to
(02:44):
in this episode.
Speaker 4 (02:46):
Well, we got going to do a little talking, with me
Going to do some news in alittle bit and we'll go over the
schedule, you know scheduleupdated classes and whatnot.
Speaker 3 (02:58):
So yeah, I think that's all we have for today,
Anything else.
Yeah, Wesley's got some reallygood stories that he's been
doing research on and those willcome up.
And then the last three weekswe've been playing I call it
calendar bingo as far as puttingclasses on the calendar and
then moving it around and thesame business we could hear.
(03:20):
So that schedule that we had asof a month ago needs to get
redone because there's been somuch more added to it, and
that's exciting for us.
We're always happy to be busy,but we seem to be this year
busier than ever, and that's ahuge credit to Wes Wilburn,
who's the name and he's the face.
He's basically the guy thateverybody wants to come and see.
(03:46):
We're just happy to be here tohelp him get that moved along.
Speaker 1 (03:52):
Now April.
I want to tell our listenersthey had over about 150
attendees at the Florida ToeShow in your class we had dozens
and dozens and dozens of them,and then we also made a special
announcement.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
That's kind of still in the works, so when that all
does like play out we will comeback on and we'll do a whole
episode on that too, but that'sanother exciting thing that
we're looking forward to in ourvery, very near future.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
Oh yeah, well, I heard the Florida Toe Show for
you guys was fantastic.
It was very.
I enjoyed it.
I've met so many good peopleand we got reunited with a bunch
of people I've known over theyears.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
Isn't it something with that show?
I'm always happy to go, whetheror not we do an event, whether
or not we exhibit there or justwe're just attendees for it.
It is like a big family reunion.
When you go, People you don'tget to see all year, and if you
can't go you got to skip a year.
That's two more years inbetween Santa.
And it's just it's anundertaking to get there.
(05:02):
But once you're there it justkind of feels like it's a little
bit at home, even though you'refar away from your home.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
Well, I know one thing you and I and Wes had a
great visit with Day Rochester,our newest sponsor.
Yeah, she's a new sponsor, butwe had a great time at her home,
didn't she?
Speaker 3 (05:26):
Oh my goodness, Her humble abode, her very humble
abode.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
And the food.
Poor Westby wasn't there, butWestby, I'm going to tell you
this guy, I love the food.
There was barbecue, there wasall.
It was a buffet of buffets.
It was excellent.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
And the two years ago that I went before it was the
catered meal and it was verygood, it was delicious.
You were there to that one also.
This one here I liked a littlebit better because it was just
more home down, you could eatyour food, go back and get
another serving and it was justgood fellowship.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
Yes, and it was a great time.
Yeah, A couple of years ago shehad the presidential chef a
chef from the president's WhiteHouse actually came and cooked
and it was more formal.
Speaker 4 (06:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
It was good food.
It was great food.
Yeah, it was good food.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
It was great food I agree with you, but this food
was excellent.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
It was informal, it was casual, it was just like if
you went to a family reunion.
Yeah, it was just a very nicegathering.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
Yeah, I thought it was.
It was just a.
It was a very nice gathering.
Yeah, it was.
I thought it was great.
She's, she's a real hostess andmade everybody feel right at
home, and no matter whether youhad a gigantic tow facility or
you only have one or two trucks,she made you feel like you were
the king for the night.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
And I'm going to tell you another thing that Gay
Rochester did for me, and thiswas the next day the Ladies
Luncheon, which is always a bigevent, emily has been able to go
a couple of times because we'renormally doing something when
we're there, so I had the luxuryof attending that.
She invited me to their table,which was a resort table, and
she saved a seat for me to sitwith her, like right beside her
(07:30):
oh my yeah, that seat was rightthere.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
You know, everybody wants to step aside, gay yes,
and I saw Ruthie Landau earlierthat day, all dressed up in her
leopard outfit yeah yeah she wasa hot seat, hot seat, oh, she
did she is the best.
Ruthie does a wonderful job inthat ladies luncheon and that's
(07:53):
another one.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
I've seen her eight times from the beginning of us
getting there until we left.
Every time I've seen her, shewalked up to me and hugged me.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
She's a wonderful.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
No, she's such a wonderful person.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
She and her husband are just wonderful people and
they really are a key factor inFlorida.
They're just good people.
Rochester surrounds herselfjust good people.
Hey, Rochester, surroundyourself with good people.
But it was good seeing you andWes and I enjoyed breaking bread
with you.
I sat right opposite you guysat the big table there, so it
was nice.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
Yeah, and then I just wanted to do one shout-out to
Mike Seaman, who runs that show,and I don't even know.
We did a little show in MyrtleBeach.
That was like a tenth of thatand we knew what that
undertaking was, and for him topull this off every year is
phenomenal and he treated us sowell when we were there.
He had other things to do andhe had other considerations, but
(08:50):
when it came down to it he madesure that we were looked after.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
You got it.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
All right, let's take a quick break and we will come
back with our very special guestwho has hijacked the podcast
booth with Wesley Wilburn.
Speaker 6 (09:08):
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We look forward to serving you.
Speaker 1 (10:20):
Welcome back listeners.
Of course you know you'relistening to the number one
podcast the.
American Towing RecoveryInstitute podcast, and this is a
special edition.
This is my time now to ask forthe voice of Wes Wilburn.
Best looking son Wesley Wesley,how are you?
(10:41):
I'm doing well, dj.
Speaker 5 (10:43):
Thank you for that introduction.
We have a story out of KansasCity of Metro Towing company
owner and mother who has beenlegally towing cars.
Falsifying forms now face 18felonies.
Speaker 7 (10:56):
Some major allegations that came to light
from the Jackson CountyProsecutor's Office against
Metro Tow and Transport.
So take a look here.
Donald Adamson owns Metro Towand Transport and his mother,
Lynette, is an employee at thebusiness.
Both are charged with stealing,forgery and harassment.
Prosecutors accused the two oftowing vehicles illegally
(11:19):
without proper authorization,falsifying forms and trying to
block owners from getting theircars back.
Now, according to courtdocuments, Kansas City police
received numerous complaintsabout the company over the years
.
This is a very frustratingsituation for so many people and
some are happy to see somelegal action.
(11:40):
This mother and son duo havebeen allegedly taking advantage
of people for years.
That's according to theprosecutor's office and KCPD.
As they say, hundreds ofcomplaints have piled up, like
high fees, people having a hardtime getting their car back and
even people who claim they stoletheir car.
These court documents allegeMetro tow submitted paperwork on
(12:02):
towed cars with copies ofsignatures rather than an actual
signature that is required bylaw.
We met Lucas Diaz while he wastrying to get his car back.
He's frustrated.
As he says it was towed Tuesdaymorning from a spot he parks in
often.
Speaker 8 (12:17):
I was not notified.
I had to call.
They were signs were notclearly displayed.
I was to call.
They were signs displayed thatI was parc.
He got told I have to cal washere he then had to.
Speaker 7 (12:33):
So I went up to the office a comment and before I co
nothing to say, ok, thank you.
Now we reached out to the cityto find out what the next steps
are for this business, as it isstill open and have not heard
back at this time since news hascome out, more alleged victims
(12:54):
have came out with claimsranging from bad tolls, illegal
car sales to even hit and runs.
Speaker 5 (13:00):
Will keep you updated on the story.
Here's a story of predatorytowing out of Perth, australia,
of a woman facing egregiouscharges.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
Perth is a driving city.
People rely on their cars andevery day hundreds need their
vehicle towed when they breakdown or crash.
Lisa dinged her car on thegarage door at home in Perth
South.
She then drove it to work in aneighbouring suburb where a tow
truck picked it up.
She then got a bill for $5,000.
(13:31):
That was four weeks ago.
The tow company still has hercar locked in their yard.
The government recently set alimit of $485 as the fee for
towing a car from a crash in themetro area.
The company stinging Lisa fivegrand says it isn't breaking any
rules because Lisa's car waspicked up at work 13km from her
(13:53):
home where she hit the garagedoor.
Under the rules, the price capapplies for towies collecting a
car from within two kilometresof a crash site.
When a tow truck arrived shethought it was sent by her
insurer, rac.
It wasn't.
Lisa signed a release form fromKing Tow without a specified
price, but she didn't read thefine print which warned she
(14:15):
could be charged up to $7,000.
She doesn't know how King Towgot her details or how the
business even knew she needed atow.
Look, I can't comment onindividual cases, but I know
that they have been working withthe operator to try and get
their car back and we areproviding assistance.
Rac wouldn't go into specificsbut said unfortunately there
(14:37):
remain unregulated spaces wherewe are seeing instances of
unreasonable behaviour andpractices by some towing
operators.
The Department of Transportsays it is unacceptable that
rogue tow truck operators arestill finding ways to exploit
innocent motorists.
Speaker 5 (14:54):
Now King's Towing is a small, family-owned business
and say these charges are to bepaid by RAC.
Now Kings and RAC is now in alegal dispute and we'll keep you
updated on the case.
Here's another story about thetow truck violence happening in
Ontario, this time in Brampton,with three tow trucks being set
(15:15):
on fire overnight.
Speaker 10 (15:16):
We begin with a concerning incident taking place
in Peel Region.
Emergency crews in Brampton hada busy night after three
separate tow trucks were set onfire.
Peel Police say that two of thetow truck fires occurred on
Buffridge Trail around 1 am,while the third truck was set on
fire on nearby Venetian Terrterrace shortly after.
(15:40):
Our camera is capturing theaftermath of that Now.
Luckily, no injuries have beenreported, but all three fires
are now under investigation andare considered suspicious.
One of the trucks was set onfire while parked in a driveway
and neighbors say it soundedlike a bomb went off.
Speaker 5 (15:59):
Police at this time say the three are not linked
together, but we'll keep youupdated on the case.
These next two stories show thesad side of towing with deaths
while doing your job.
This story is out of Florida onUS 27, where tow truck operator
Ken Sopasto lost his life.
Speaker 11 (16:20):
Ken Sopasto was more than just a tow truck driver.
He was a cherished friend andmentor to many in LaBelle and
across southwest Florida, andnews of his passing has sparked
outrage and sorrow.
Speaker 8 (16:30):
This shouldn't have happened, but the towing
industry is becoming to be oneof the most dangerous industries
you can be in anymore.
Speaker 11 (16:37):
Shane Freed a friend who told me Ken was more like
family issues you can be inanymore.
Speaker 8 (16:42):
Shane Freed, a friend who told me Ken was more like
family.
We used to play together in thewoods, we built trucks together
and just played in the mud, andwe built businesses together
and it's a whole other family,you know, and he's just an
amazing person.
Speaker 11 (17:01):
Troopers say Sospato was killed on US Highway 27 in
Highland County on Monday whenhe was stopped in outside of his
tow truck when a vehicle veeredto the right and struck him and
something a longtime tow truckdriver said that this should not
happen with Florida's move overlaw which requires drivers to
either change lanes or reducetheir speed when approaching
emergency vehicles or roadsideworkers, but says he knows
firsthand about the dangers onthe road Been hit on the
(17:23):
shoulder twice, or on the sideof the road twice, and I've
probably gotten hit by aboutfive mirrors.
And that's why this law is soimportant to follow.
Speaker 9 (17:32):
People.
Not paying attention makes ourlife that much harder at work
and riskier.
You can wear all thefluorescent you want, you have
all the fancy flashing lightsthat you want, you have all the
trucks behind you.
All it takes is that one personnot to pay attention.
Speaker 5 (17:50):
This one comes out of Long Island, New York.
Richard Rodriguez, federal towtruck operator, was fatally
struck when helping an SUV onthe side of the road on Sunrise
Highway.
Speaker 12 (18:02):
Now know a tow truck driver was killed in a crash
that shut down parts of SunriseHighway for hours.
In Bayshore, 32-year-oldRichard Rodriguez was hit while
trying to load a broken down caronto a tow truck yesterday.
Police say he was standing onthe shoulder of the westbound
lanes near Brentwood Road around1.30 when 38-year-old Anthony
Lacalze hit him.
(18:23):
That driver was not hurt.
Rodriguez died at that scene.
Speaker 5 (18:26):
Howsey hit him.
That driver was not hurt.
Rodriguez died at that scene.
Richard was a father of twodaughters and we pray for all of
the families of fallen towoperators.
Here's a surprising story outof Oklahoma City where a tow
truck driver credits hisco-worker for saving his life
during a fiery crash when atruck hit a tow truck's gas tank
, setting the car on a blaze.
Speaker 13 (18:52):
If it wasn't for my co-worker and God, I probably
wouldn't be here.
His co-worker, Mason, wasfollowing him in another tow
truck on the way to a call inOKC.
Just seconds after thecollision at Southwest 44th and
Rancho Drive, Mason knew hedidn't have much time.
Speaker 8 (19:04):
He rushed over, opened my door and helped me out
and I asked him I'm like man,what happened?
He said this truck just cameout of nowhere and hit you.
I was like where did he comefrom?
I never saw him, never saw hislights.
Speaker 9 (19:17):
I parked the truck as fast as I could and rushed over
there and got him out and madesure he was okay breathing alive
.
Speaker 13 (19:28):
Oklahoma City police say the suspect driver in the
pickup that caused the crash wasinvolved in another crash at
Southwest 44th and Blackwelderbut left the scene.
The driver kept running stopsigns and eventually slammed
into Corey's tow truck.
Speaker 8 (19:38):
I went to grab the steering wheel to pull myself up
, to find out what happened andI was covered in flames and
smoke and all I see in my trucklooked like I was in a tornado.
I was just spinning.
Speaker 13 (19:49):
Mason said the firefighters were there
extremely fast but he knew hehad to go through fire to save
his friend.
Speaker 9 (19:56):
I think the only part that was not on fire was that
passenger door.
Able to get my hand around thathandle.
That was it.
Speaker 13 (20:02):
Now.
The two people in that pickuptruck did not survive.
They later passed away at thehospital.
However, corey and Mason wereboth back at work the next day
and once again, they were notinjured.
Speaker 5 (20:12):
We end this segment with news out of Montana, where
a House bill unanimously passedaddressing how vehicles
approached roundabouts, addingstipulations into the law giving
preference for vehicles haulingor towing.
The Senate Bill 433 brought bySenator Teresa Manzella,
republican out of Hamilton,changes regulations for how
(20:34):
vehicles approach roundabouts.
Hauling or towing vehicles willlegally be allowed to deviate
from their lane to move througha traffic circle.
Other vehicles in theroundabout must yield to hauling
vehicles.
The bill will also have animpact on double lane
roundabouts which can be used onfour-lane highways.
It allows trailers to legallydeviate from one of the lanes.
(20:55):
After a final procedureapproval in the House, the bill
will head to the Governor's desk.
This is Towing News Now.
Speaker 1 (21:03):
Boy Towing news channel is getting bigger and
bigger and the towing newswesley did a great job this
episode, but we're gonna havethe upcoming dates and we'll
listen to them right now comingup well.
Speaker 4 (21:20):
First of all, we just got back from massachusetts.
I did three night classesthanks scott perlow from Rapid
Recovery in New York.
He rode along with me, helpedme get there, helped make the
classes a whole lot better, camehome and gave me a bunch of
ideas and not only ideas, butthe factual information to back
it up, to make that four houreasy training and certification
(21:47):
class that we just introduced,Make that thing really, really
pop.
And we're going to do anotherone of those coming up here at
the end of May in Thomasville,North Carolina.
We're also going to be in StLouis, Missouri, for a one-day
light duty on May the 16th, 17th, 18th, which is a Saturday
Sunday.
It's going to be a two-dayheavy.
17th 18th, which is a SaturdaySunday.
(22:07):
It's going to be a two-dayheavy.
We're also going to be at theNew York Toe Show, the Esther
Show we're going to do theauction on Friday night.
Sponsor that again, we're happyto be there to do that.
And Wednesday night we'reputting together a date for
Albany, new York, for thatfour-hour electric vehicle class
.
So for Raphael, one of ourattendees there at the math
(22:30):
class, we'll bring it up to NewYork while we're there doing the
show as well Then we're also inOhio June 20th for the evening
class in the evening and 21-22for the two-day heavy duty.
Medford, oregon is July 18th forlight duty, 19th and 20th for
(22:51):
heavy duty and we've got a bunchmore dates past that.
We'll kind of go over them nexttime we're together.
I thank our listeners.
We're going to hang around.
Speaker 14 (23:03):
For electric and other alternative fuel vehicles.
We have developed an app thatgives you all the manufacturer's
411 for when that 911 happens,whether you are a fire tow or
police, we got you covered.
Speaker 5 (23:16):
To find the EV Clever app, go to your Apple or Google
Play store for a 30-day freetrial the National Tow Operator
Certification, an independentlysourced virtual testing program
covering light duty, heavy duty,electric and alternative fuel
vehicle.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
So, april, as we come to the end of this podcast,
what's one of the things youwant to remind all of our
listeners?
Speaker 3 (23:41):
In this podcast we have highlighted, unfortunately,
at least three tow or downdeaths that's happened in the
last week and a half, Week toweek and a half.
So my emphasis on this isplease, everybody, please, if
you can't, stay on thatpassenger side of the truck and
(24:02):
be safe and be careful.
Speaker 4 (24:04):
Boy, I agree with you April.
Speaker 1 (24:06):
This was an episode that touched on a lot of tragedy
in our industry.
We all know we can prevent itby safety.
Safety comes first.
We want everyone to come hometo their loved ones every night
when they leave and if Wentz wason the podcast he'd say be safe
(24:27):
out there and we'll see younext time.
On the Koei News.
Speaker 4 (24:30):
Channel Podcast.
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