January 28, 2025 • 46 mins
Imagine navigating the chaos of a hijacked tow truck chase or dealing with treacherous weather conditions in parts of the U.S. unaccustomed to snow and ice. These real-life scenarios set the stage for this week's episode of the American Towing Recovery Institute podcast. We take you through the gripping trial of Eric Streitzel, whose ill-fated hijacking of a tow truck led to a dangerous pursuit. The courtroom drama unfolds with compelling video evidence and a defense built on mental health arguments. But it’s more than just a trial; it’s a stark reminder of the perils that tow operators face every day.
The conversation shifts as we focus on the impact of extreme weather across the southern states and the ongoing challenges posed by California's wildfires. With the Atlanta Airport temporarily closed due to unexpected snowfalls, we discuss the infrastructural strain and reflect on how these events intersect with national economic shifts, including fuel price dynamics under the new presidential administration. In honoring a fallen tow operator, we acknowledge the grave risks inherent in this line of work, underscoring a need for increased safety and awareness.
Lastly, we spotlight stories of resilience and charity, like Tanner Adder’s quick-thinking heroics and the transformative Tunnel to Towers initiative aiding veterans. With heartening tales of community support and individual courage, we celebrate those who make a difference. As always, we’re grateful to our listeners for their support and engagement, and we hint at exciting announcements and guests lined up for future episodes. Stay tuned and stay safe—our journey through the world of towing is only just beginning.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Welcome one and all to the American Towing Recovery
Institute podcast.
I want to remind all of youthat the American Towing
Recovery Institute aims topromote professionalism, safety
and education within the towingand recovery industry.
Remember, we provide trainingand certification programs for
towing operators.
(00:26):
We also advocate for industrystandards and best practices,
support research and develop allnew techniques, including
research and development ofelectric and alternative fuel
vehicles With extensive research, with the EV Clever app,
available now on Apple andGoogle Play stores, Foster
(00:50):
cooperation among industrystakeholders.
Please, if you need to contactus, we're always at wwwamtowri G
Now.
Here is Towing News Now.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Welcome today, friends.
Today on Towing News.
Now we're going to look at theweather impact across the
country.
Wildfires still blazing thewest coast.
Also, we're looking ahead tospring.
What's going on with training,tow shows and a whole lot more?
Plus, we have a whole segmentof news from across the country.
What's going on?
How tow trucks are making thenews good, bad and indifferent?
(01:30):
Sit back, relax and get readyfor a fresh episode of Towing
News Now on the Towing NewsNetwork.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
Wes, I believe this is episode number three of
season four.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Yes, it is.
Thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
Yep, we're rolling with it now.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
Absolutely rolling.
Yours truly, wes Wilburn, withApril Wilburn and DJ Harrington,
we're happy to be here.
Got a lot going on right now,the day we're sitting here
recording this, this recordsetting cold and snow across the
country.
Dj, we got snow here insoutheastern north carolina,
(02:09):
which you know.
Different parts of northcarolina have different weather
patterns, but this is definitelya different weather pattern for
us because we don't get snow inthis little southeastern corner
of the state and the um crazypart was is the further south
you went, the more snow therewas.
That was the crazy part yeah anduh, you're absolutely right and
(02:31):
I talked to somebody inlouisiana.
They're in northern louisiana,they didn't get much snow at all
southern louisiana got walloped.
New orleans got I don'tremember was how many inches, I
think it was eight inches eightinches is what I heard.
what I remember was it was likefrom 1895 or something was the
last time that he broke therecord for the snowfall since
1895.
(02:51):
That's outstanding and I knowone of the news reports we
didn't we could have gone withseveral of them about snow and
tow truck action across theSouth.
One of them was Mobile, alabama.
Another one was Louisiana,which we'll get to that in just
a little bit.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
There's got to be a lot of that.
Because they're not used tothis weather, people are not
used to driving in these systems, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
DJ.
How about you?
Speaker 1 (03:19):
Well, the Atlanta Airport was closed yesterday for
part of the day.
It's 13 degrees here in Canton,georgia, and school was on for
today, but the kids were out ofschool yesterday.
So there's the weather and, ofcourse, all of our prayers go
out to the people in California,because there's another fire
(03:42):
out there today.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
That's what I've seen on the news Terrible 13 degrees
currently during the daytime DJ, or is that?
Speaker 1 (03:50):
below for now.
No, it's 13 right now, Boy thatis low.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
We don't you know the teens in the South in the
daytime is something that'shardly ever happened, especially
here in the suburbs of Atlanta.
Basically correct.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
Yes, it's cold, we don't have the teens this time,
a lot of times.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
It's cold.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
Were you out there making snow angels DJ.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
The other day, yes, the other day it snowed how much
.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
We had about two inches.
Yeah, that's about what we gothere in this part of the state.
Like I said, the further southyou went, the more southern it
was.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
But underneath the snow, april was ice, and that's
the part, yep.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
We are thankful that we started off with a new
president and a newadministration.
It looks like they got thingsgoing, all the executive orders
they signed.
Obviously we're not a politicalprogram so we're not going to
get political.
We feel very good that the newadministration is an American
citizen that's out there doingstuff and we're looking forward
to that.
(05:01):
I think his drill, baby drill,did the country good before for
the price of oil.
I know the majority of thelisteners to this show do well
when diesel fuel is priced in areasonable manner and doesn't
get out on that world marketwith the prices high, demand
taking it extremely high.
(05:21):
So I feel good, great new dayin America.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
The very first time I went to TRAA Hill Days, the
senator from Florida was MarkRubio and of course he now
yesterday became Secretary ofState.
Terry Estate and his office wasso kind to everyone from TRAA
(05:48):
that we were talking to him andall of a sudden he said stay
right here.
And there was five of us.
Stay right here, the senator'scoming in right now.
He said hi to each and everyone of us and said thank you for
leaving your material about TRAwith my office.
(06:08):
That's amazing.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
That is amazing, so hopefully that's a good step in
the right direction.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
I hope so too, April.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Yeah, they got them through on the first real quick
and that's good to see, and I'mglad to see that they're moving
right along with things.
I really am.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
So what's the news now?
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Well, looking at the TOWIE news, we start with that.
I hate to have this duty, but Ifeel we need to recognize this.
Apparently, we lost a TOWIEoperator already.
I believe this is the first forthe year.
I'm searching the news andwhatnot to make sure of that.
Well, we showed up with a sadnews, reporting that a
42-year-old Maui man was killedFriday.
(06:52):
That was a week ago.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
Identified as Kilpaca Nelson of Waukee.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
At 3 o'clock in the afternoon of 2007,.
Kenwood's flatbed tow truckfailed.
To 3 o'clock in the afternoon,a 2007 10-inch flatbed tow truck
failed to navigate a right bendin a roadway, sliding into a
metal guardrail before returning, the flatbed was loaded with
six large concrete retainingwall blocks at which were
ejected, striking an unattendedvehicle nearby and a residence
(07:24):
as well.
So thank God nobody was hurtfrom that part of it.
The driver in the truck was notwearing a seatbelt and speed
was a factor in the accident.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
The investigation continues.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
Very sad story to start the year with.
We pray for everybody involved.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
Definitely, definitely, always hard to hear
that death in the towingindustry under any circumstances
, this one or any other one, andwe're hoping for a year, we're
praying for a year that we don'thave to do this, we don't have
to read these things.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
Yeah, it's a shame.
Next story takes us to Oregon.
Speaker 6 (08:07):
This is about a trial that's now happening from an
incident where a tow truck washijacked about two and a half
years ago.
Speaker 7 (08:17):
During opening statements, prosecutors showed
video that clearly shows a mannamed Eric Streitzel jumping
into the tow truck as the driverjumps onto the back to try to
stop him.
But defense attorneys arguesome of the charges don't take
into account what reallyhappened Inside a Multnomah
County courtroom Tuesday after ajury watched this video of a
(08:39):
crash following the carjackingof a tow truck.
Speaker 8 (08:43):
With Mr Crist still hanging on for dear life.
It is a miracle that this mandid not die.
Speaker 7 (08:55):
On July 10, 2023, a tow truck driver by the name of
Travis Crist was in the processof towing a car after a wreck
near the Moda Center, but beforehe knew it, the suspect, eric
Streitzel, made a move.
Here's his defense attorney.
Speaker 8 (09:06):
Unhoused, unmedicated , unstable.
He didn't exactly know what washappening moment to moment he
was walking barefoot on thesteel bridge.
He saw a tow truck idling withno one in it and, without
pausing, he jumped into that towtruck and he threw it in drive.
Speaker 7 (09:27):
Christ took the stand on day one of the trial,
recalling what was going throughhis head as he clung to the
back of his own vehicle.
Speaker 4 (09:36):
Why chase down the man stealing this very expensive
vehicle?
Speaker 6 (09:39):
down the man stealing this very expensive vehicle
it's instinct.
Speaker 9 (09:43):
I don't have a fight or flight mechanism in the
flight portion of it.
Speaker 7 (09:52):
Traveling first through Old Town then onto the
freeway.
Footage shows the speedsincreasing, the truck weaving in
and out of traffic and Criststill holding on in the back
then turning around to, as hestated, brace himself.
Speaker 6 (10:05):
I was just watching cones flying out of the way.
A lot of debris started comingup.
I was kind of hoping he wouldhave stopped long before this
portion.
Speaker 7 (10:17):
The truck would eventually come to a stop after.
Video shows it slamming into asemi, then swerving onto the
shoulder.
The aftermath displayed inthese pictures to the jury.
As the defense argued thesuspect was struggling with his
mental health.
Speaker 8 (10:36):
Those videos show pretty much everything, which
means they will also show youthat this was the result of
impulse and not intent.
Speaker 7 (10:46):
The trial resumes tomorrow morning at 9 am.
As for the victim again hangingonto the back of that truck, he
says after the crash he leftthe scene bleeding from the head
and with a shoulder injury.
Speaker 6 (10:59):
As of the airing of this podcast, towing News Now
was unable to find a medicalupdate on the operator, tyler
Christ.
If anybody knows that, we'dappreciate the 411 on that.
We are praying for theoperator's family and we also
are praying that the judicialsystem does its job.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
What do you think, DJ ?
Speaker 1 (11:26):
Boy oh boy.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
Wes, what is your suggestion when something like
that happens?
It's a horrible situation.
I know the instinct is thejunkyard dog mentality and I say
that I don't mean that in a badway but not jumping on the back
of the truck, you need to bealive to report what happened.
The gentleman, lucky, is alive.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
Yeah, I think it's instinct to do something like
that, but it's definitely notadvisable because he was
testifying in court.
So there's no long-terminjuries with that, but that
definitely could have went a lotworse than what had happened.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
Yeah, it's a horrible situation and it's good to
point that out.
This happened a couple yearsago and the thing that I have to
say rubs me the wrong waydeeply is the attorney trying to
say that because he was walkingin quiet, they didn't say it.
(12:26):
I guess they implied it is whatthey did, that he had some kind
of right to take that tow truckbecause he was walking on the
bridge barefooted.
Speaker 3 (12:37):
I don't think that she said that, but she
definitely played the sympathycard because she said he was
unhoused, unstable and anotherunborn.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
I forget what the unborn was, but he wasn't
responsible for his actionsbecause and she also implied
that, if I remember correctly,that because he was barefoot on
the grave at least that's what Iremember that was the
motivation that he saidsomething he didn't even think
about and just instinctivelystole water Instinctively got in
, got in the seat, put his footon the brakes, put the
(13:09):
extinguishing gear and drove andsteered it away.
Speaker 3 (13:12):
He instinctively did that.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
First instinct was to steal something of great, great
value.
Because they, because he hadshoes, sometimes for that, why
he didn't have shoes on his feet, walk across the bridge at that
moment does not decide hisproblem, in my opinion.
But what do I know?
Speaker 3 (13:33):
I thought truck operators would probably would
have bought him a pair of shoesyou're right about that yeah
some of the nicest people DJ.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
What do you think about all that?
Speaker 1 (13:43):
Boy, oh boy, wes, I don't myself.
It's a stolen vehicle, nomatter what.
But I'm not an attorney.
And today you know if you steala person's property, you stole
it Absolutely.
And then you went to a rear endof an 18-wheeler person's
(14:04):
property.
You stole Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
And then he went to a rear end of an 18-wheeler.
You're right about that too, tj, that whole police chase that
you know.
He led them on the way.
He drove that truck and ran inthe back of that.
He had no concern aboutanything his own life, anybody
around him's life that couldhave turned out really, really
bad.
I think there's a reporter inthe field who has one more story
(14:27):
for us.
What do you got All right?
Speaker 3 (14:31):
I have this poor guy, Felix Calcedo, in Northern
California.
This is from the Mountain ViewVoice.
This is where we got thisinformation from On April, the
12th 2023, he towed a Tesla.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
He's a tow operator.
He's a tow operator.
Speaker 3 (14:49):
He towed a Tesla, did all the things that he was
supposed to do and, as it sohappens, it was owned by.
At the time she was a citycouncil person, ellen Kamai.
She's now the mayor, but shetowed his car.
Ms Kamai and her husband cameand paid the fines, complained
to the MLA and then the next dayhe was interrogated by Sergeant
(15:14):
Christopher Troth a potentialunlawful towing involving that
Tesla.
The police report said thatGoss investigated the incident
and met with us on April 13th.
Speaker 2 (15:27):
This was the police chief correct Says Sergeant.
Okay, police.
Member of the police department.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
Yeah, according to the lawsuit, goss regretted the
interrogated Falsito and accusedhim of improper towing.
The encounter led Falsito tobelieve that Cabayan, her
husband, contacted ahigh-ranking official to
complain about the tow and thatGoff was assigned to the
investigation.
To get back at Mr Falsito andhe's filed a civil rights action
(15:56):
, court against or case against.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
So let me get this straight.
The towing operator towed aTesla.
Everybody thought it was goingto be a Tesla on fire story or
something.
Catch y'all on that one towed a.
Tesla did his job, like manytow operators do every day here
in America.
The then city council woman,now mayor, didn't like it.
(16:22):
She had to shut the police downto investigate and interrogate
from what I remember reading theco-operator and the city
council lady now mayor was hardto deal with, wasn't it
Something about that?
When they came to pick up thecar.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
Oh yeah, and calling it a fine, it wasn't a fine.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
They were paying a topey, wasn't it Something about
that?
When they came to pick up thecar, oh yeah, and calling it a
fine, it wasn't a fine they werepaying a tow fee, not a fine,
but they had that ground.
So anyway, they harassed thetowor apparently, or alleged
anyway.
Now the towor is suing them andsettled for it.
Speaker 3 (16:57):
Yeah, it says.
The lawsuit is seeking torecover compensatory and
punitive damages, as well as thecost of account fees and civil
penalties.
Speaker 2 (17:08):
As I've always said, this business is really tough.
It is a tough business.
You have to be tough to be init.
Speaker 3 (17:13):
You have to be tough in it because somebody likes
their car to be towed, nobodydoes.
You're not having a good day.
I don't care what thecircumstances of your car being
towed.
Your day is not a good day whenthat happens.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
Yeah, but you know it's also a personal
responsibility.
They've got to takeresponsibility for it, if that
is correct with that lawsuit andwith that lawsuit alleged yeah,
alleged yeah.
Then that's the worst thingthat can happen.
That's someone taking politicalpower and trying to put their
thumb down on the working person.
Speaker 3 (17:44):
And if that's what happens, more power to him,
because he's strong enough tostand up against it.
Right and then everybody is.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
So we'll follow this case closely.
So we've got several morestories we want to share with
you, but it's time to take aquick break.
We'll be right back after aquick break.
Speaker 11 (18:13):
For all your ringing needs.
Give us a look attowingequipmentdirectcom or
email us at info at amtowriorg.
Also, you can give us a call at910-747-9000.
Speaker 10 (18:23):
Information in this podcast is made possible by
generous sponsorship fromHenry's Wrecker, serving the
community with quality towingand recovery for over 40 years.
Henryswreckercom.
Speaker 1 (18:33):
Welcome back listeners.
You know you're listening toApril and Wes Wilburn and DJ
Harrington, the tow doctor onthe new Towing News channel,
doing this new segment calledTowing News.
Now, wes, I'll turn it backover to you in April.
Speaker 2 (18:51):
Thanks, dj.
I certainly appreciate that.
We're happy to be back.
We've got a couple more storieswe want to go to A reporter.
Cannonball Clankard did anotherstory about something going on
in southeast Kansas, so we'll goto that next.
Speaker 6 (19:04):
Tragic news to report out of southeastern Kansas.
On January 22, 2025, a man waskilled and a woman suffered
serious injuries when a car anda tow truck collided.
Car in a tow truck collided.
The Kansas Highway Patrolreported that the Volkswagen
(19:28):
Jetta stopped at a stop sign andthen began to cross the highway
, failing to yield to asouthbound tow truck.
Two vehicles collided in theintersection.
The man driving the Jetta, a79-year-old out of Venta,
oklahoma, died at the scene.
His 73-year-old passenger wastaken to the hospital for
treatment.
The 23-year-old driver of thetow truck was towing a pickup
(19:53):
truck was not hurt.
All those involved were wearingseatbelts.
No further details wereavailable at the time of this
podcast.
Speaker 2 (20:01):
Boy.
That's a bad situation.
There Sounds like an elderlyperson driving.
No further details wereavailable at the time of this
podcast 70s and I gotta believethey didn't see the tow truck
compared to.
(20:22):
They didn't obey the stop signis what it's indicated as.
So it's a tough, toughsituation.
It goes to show you anythingcan happen anywhere at any time.
Can't stress enough to be alertwhen you're approaching
intersections, especially that'swhere the majority of accidents
happen at.
So and again our prayers go outto the families involved.
(20:47):
That's tough for everybodyinvolved, including the towing
operator Still involved, stilldeals with.
There's a lot of gruesome stuffto deal with in a situation
like that.
A lot of emotional stuff Downthe road, even if you can be
right as rain, if they'll beinvolved in litigation
unfortunately so I pray foreverybody involved and I'm very
(21:10):
sorry to hear about that yeah,that's really.
Speaker 3 (21:13):
That's just really really bad.
I mean, almost everything isabortable.
But that's hindsight, that's alot of hindsight we got another
situation that's similar to this.
Speaker 2 (21:25):
We don't know the outcome of it, uh, yet happened
down in louisiana and here'skind of a similar accident as
well, where a bad situationappeared it was thursday morning
, just before 7 30 when theCaddo Parish Sheriff's Office
got called to the crash on NorthMarket Street.
Speaker 9 (21:46):
Three of the seven students and the driver of the
school bus number 739 went tothe hospital after it was
rear-ended by the driver of atow truck.
The driver of the tow truckremains in critical condition.
The Sheriff's Office says theglare from the sun kept the tow
truck driver from seeing thestopped bus.
(22:06):
A statement sent out by theschool district said we also are
incredibly thankful for thequick actions of our bus driver,
whose composure and focusprioritize the safety of the
children on board.
Prioritize the safety of thechildren on board.
This situation serves as areminder of the care and
dedication shown every day byour bus drivers and staff.
(22:27):
We want to express our deepestgratitude to the emergency
responders from the Caddo ParishSheriff's Office, caddo Fire
District 1, for their swift andprofessional response.
This is a developing story andwe will have more information as
it becomes available.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
That's a very tough situation there.
A school bus hit For theSheriff's Department to make the
statement about the son beingso blinding in that position.
That's a pretty strongstatement for an law enforcement
officer to make, that shortlyafter an accident, especially
one involving a school bus.
So the driver of the tow truck.
(23:08):
From what we understand, wehave a known towing resource in
that area that gave us theinformation that unfortunately
the driver of the tow truck wasseverely injured Still in stable
condition but severely injured.
So it's a bad, bad situationand it's something that every
(23:31):
towing professional, drivingprofessional, just people that
drive on the highway shouldthink about.
Extra vigilant time of year withschool buses out.
I know the sun can be blindingwhen we come here and head
towards town.
Certain times of the yearDirectly headed towards town can
be blinding and looking to thewest into the sun.
(23:54):
So I just can't stress enoughfor everybody listening to the
podcast to talk to everybodythat they work with all their
comrades and pay extra attentionduring school bus times, pay
extra attention if there'sissues with the sun, you should
keep a following distance, etcetera.
Speaker 3 (24:16):
Yeah, the two different things is you know
you're a tow truck operator, soyou can't wait for the sun to be
at a certain position in thesky and you can't wait for the
school buses to not be on theroad.
But if you could do that,that's a good option.
But when you respond to thatcall, you just have to kind of
get to know your roads and yourareas a little bit better.
Speaker 2 (24:39):
Give yourself extra time and distance.
Speaker 3 (24:41):
Yeah, the sun is blinding, though You're coming
up to a light, a red light or agreen light, and it's you know
again, it must have been asevere factor for police and ray
.
Speaker 2 (24:57):
That's not the law to the law enforcement for the
news to put out there so we gotanother story out of kentucky.
It's not a great story, uh, butit is happened.
Speaker 4 (25:07):
Let's go correspond in the field the story comes to
us out of louisville, kentucky alouisville firefighter is out
of jail tonight after beingarrested for running over a tow
truck operator.
Sergeant Ramiro Rodriguez wasarraigned today on assault and
other charges.
According to court records,jefferson Town Police called a
wrecker to move an abandoned caras it was being hooked up.
(25:30):
Police say Rodriguez came backand said that he had gone to get
gas.
He's accused of threatening thedriver after being forced to
pay a fee to get his car.
Police say he then followed thedriver back to his offices and
hit two other tow truck driverswho tried to intervene.
Rodriguez has been placed onadministrative leave.
Speaker 6 (25:49):
Just to clarify the alleged criminal was driving a
vehicle when he hit the twotowing operators that intervened
.
Speaker 2 (25:58):
Boy, that's a horrible story.
They make a big deal about himbeing a firefighter, but she was
not acting in an officialcapacity and was not acting to a
standard that I normally knowfirefighters hold themselves to.
It was just a horriblesituation.
The fact that he hit him withthe car says a lot.
Speaker 3 (26:19):
Yeah, really, it really does say a lot.
So since we're in Kentucky,let's just stay here for a
minute.
I came across an article.
There's a new bill that wouldprovide safety blue lights for
tow truck drivers in Kentucky,and I don't know how everybody
feels about that.
I think people are on one sideof that or the other.
You know is blue lights toomuch.
But here's why they did it.
(26:40):
In September 2024, there was adeath of a 54-year-old tow truck
operator.
The gentleman's name was TroyCodwell.
He was in I-64 during a tow joband then State Representative
Richard Whittemore had filed abill that would provide workers
with safety lights.
That death caused that bill topass Again.
(27:03):
Don't know what side people areon in this plan.
That's a mixed bag, but atleast the state is being
proactive with something.
Speaker 2 (27:14):
It's a great thing, as long as they're not abused.
It's a known fact that bluelights flashing, red lights
flashing rearward, slow trafficdown, way better than yellow
lights.
Again, there's just always, aslong as they're not abused.
Speaker 3 (27:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:30):
That has happened, unfortunately it does say.
Speaker 3 (27:32):
The measure details that the bull legs could be used
while moving a vehicle ordebris from the road, but not
used while actively towing themon the highway.
And that is where people get alittle bit.
Speaker 2 (27:45):
Good, yeah, one of the better legislations I've
seen speaks of, you know, usingthe lights rearward facing and
wide stationary only, and alsowhile clearing an accident scene
.
I think it does say somethingto that effect.
That's good, responsiblelegislation that will help both
sides, it's positive.
Speaker 3 (28:04):
Yeah, absolutely.
Whether or not you agree withblue lights or not, blue lights
at least is positive.
Speaker 2 (28:09):
Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (28:10):
I think we can go to a break and come back with the
rest of the story.
What do you think, Wes?
Speaker 1 (28:16):
Sure, all right.
So we'll take a break and we'llbe right back.
Speaker 11 (28:28):
For electric and other alternative fuel vehicles.
We have developed an app thatgives you all the manufacturers
411 for when that 911 happens.
Whether you are a fire tow orpolice, we got you covered.
To find the EV Clever app, goto your Apple or Google Play
store for a 30-day free trial.
Speaker 5 (28:46):
We also offer the National Tow Operator
Certification an independentlysourced virtual testing program
covering light duty, heavy duty.
Speaker 1 (28:56):
Independently sourced virtual testing program
covering light duty, heavy duty,electric and alternative fuel
vehicle.
Welcome back listeners.
You know you're listening tothe new Towing News channel and
we are available every week.
Please remember to mark it down.
We're available on Spotify,iTunes, pandora, stitcher,
iheartmedia, amazon or whereveryou get your podcasts.
(29:18):
We can't thank you enough tolike, review and share with all
your friends.
So, without further ado, let mesend you back over to Wes and
April Wilber.
Speaker 3 (29:31):
Welcome back everybody.
This is going to be a greatyear for training, with us
starting in February.
On February the 8th we're goingto have a one-day dance of a
light duty at Phillips Towing inFayetteville, north Carolina.
Also in February the 18th orthe 20th, we're doing three
one-day EV training courseselectric vehicle courses with
(29:53):
Statewide towing associations inMassachusetts.
Those locations will beannounced soon.
In March, march 7th, we'rehaving a two-hour ED class
that's a free one to attend atCP Rucker in conjunction with
Griffin Griffin in Opa-Lucka,alabama.
Also in Opa-Lucka, alabama, onthe 8th and 9th, saturday and
(30:14):
Sunday, we're having a two-dayheavy duty rotator course with
CP Rector in conjunction withGriffin and Griffin.
Friday, march 21st, in Liberty,at Liberty Towing in Worganton,
north Carolina, we're doinganother two-hour EV course and
then that, following Saturdayand Sunday, march 22nd 23rd,
(30:35):
we're doing another freetwo-hour EV course and then that
, following Saturday and Sunday,march 22nd 23rd, we're doing a
two-day heavy-duty course atLiberty Towing in Morganton,
north Carolina, and that isMarch 22nd and 23rd.
In April, starting off in April1 to 4th, we're having a
two-hour EV course that's freeto attend, also at All-County
(30:57):
Towing in Long Island, new York,and then on the 5th in Long
Island we're doing a one-daylight-duty class and then on
April the 6th, we're doing aone-day heavy-duty course Again.
That's in All-County Towing inLong Island, new York.
It looks like April is a bigmonth for us because the 10th to
(31:18):
the 12th is the Florida ToeShow.
On the 10th we're doing aone-day course with Florida Toe
Association.
It's going to be heavy-duty,focusing on electric and what's
coming up with that, and then inthat we're also doing a Tunnel
to Tower with our good friend DJHarrington event.
(31:39):
We're excited about that andthat will be on the 11th.
That brings us to May.
On May 2nd, on the Friday, we'redoing a one-day light duty in
St Louis, missouri, with J&IHauling.
On the 3rd and 4th, which isSaturday and Sunday, we're doing
a two-day heavy duty withRotator In St Louis, also with
(31:59):
J&I towing, and on the 6th andthe 7th to the 7th, which is
Monday, tuesday, wednesday, it'sa three-day extreme advanced
level heavy duty With TomLuciano and it's also in St
Louis, missouri.
We have prices for that.
We're raking that up to theseparate classes.
It was all through the packageand now we're raking it up, so
(32:24):
look online for prices for those.
Then in June 6th through the8th, we'll be at the Estrato
Show in Lake George, new York.
On the 6th we're hosting a liveauction there.
We're excited about that.
This will be our third year thatwe're doing it.
On June, the 20th, on Friday,we're doing a class at 24-hour
towing in Medford, oregon.
(32:44):
That's a light duty.
And then on the 21st and 22nd,also in Medford Oregon, for JAR
24 towing, we're doing a two-dayheavy duty with sportotator.
Then in October we're doing athree-day heavy stream advanced
level class in Buffalo, new York.
I'm looking forward to thatbecause that's going to put us
(33:06):
really close to Niagara Fallsand I'm going to go there.
So that's October 3rd to the5th.
Friday, Saturday, sunday forthat three-day class and we hope
to see you there.
Speaker 1 (33:15):
Thanks, April, for that training update and, Wes,
I'm going to send it right backover to you.
Speaker 2 (33:20):
Well, thank you, DJ.
I want to thank all ourlisteners as well.
The group of listeners keepsclimbing.
We're almost at 17,000listeners to this podcast.
That's very humbling.
It's growing every week.
Social media numbers up.
I'll go over them all, but it'sexciting, isn't it?
(33:41):
April?
Speaker 3 (33:42):
It really, really is.
We are just growing.
It seemed like real slow andthen it just felt like overnight
, but I know it wasn't.
We have really really grownthroughout these last few years
and I do feel like 2025 is justgoing to be a better year for
everybody, and these numberskind of indicate that.
(34:03):
What the numbers represent areindividual people out there who
are actively involved with us inone way or the other, and that
is so duly appreciated.
Speaker 2 (34:15):
So we've got one more news story from the field.
Just listen to that last story.
It's a good story.
Then we've got some other goodnews to talk about.
Speaker 6 (34:23):
It's a great story coming to us out of northeast
Wisconsin.
Speaker 5 (34:28):
The crash that happened alongside Gillingham
Road could have ended up a lotdifferently if one man didn't
decide to stop the up and helpthose in need during freezing
conditions On Monday night.
Tanner Adder, a tow truckdriver, says he was getting
ready to leave his apartment forwork when he heard a boom.
Speaker 10 (34:43):
I happened to see a car laying on its side when I
stepped out and a lady screamingfor help.
Speaker 5 (34:48):
Adder ran back inside his home and called 911.
He then says he put on his snowgear, grabbed a fire
extinguisher and drove his towtruck around the block to the
crash along Gillingham Road, notfar from Breezewood Lane.
Speaker 10 (34:59):
The lady was sitting on top of the vehicle right
here holding the door open,saying her husband was trapped
inside.
Speaker 5 (35:05):
Adder says he put out a fire and helped the woman off
of the car.
Speaker 10 (35:08):
I came back, jumped on top of the car, opened the
door open, seeing her husbandlaying at the at the bottom of
the car by that time.
He says he had some help as Iwas trying to pull him up.
The officer arrived on scene,extinguished the fire that was
in the engine bay again and thencame around.
I helped him up on top of thevehicle and he assisted me with
(35:31):
getting the man out of the outof the car.
Speaker 5 (35:35):
If it wasn't for you being on scene and reacting in
the timely manner that you did,do you think those people would
still be here?
Speaker 10 (35:41):
I don't think the husband would have made it.
To be honest, I think thehusband would have died.
Speaker 5 (35:45):
NENA police have praised Adder for his heroic
actions and coming quickly tothe help of people in need.
The NENA police department toldme that the woman that Adder
helped has been treated andreleased from the hospital.
As for her husband, well, he'sstill in the hospital, but they
don't know what his conditionsare as of right now.
Speaker 6 (36:00):
Good job, tanner Adder.
Way to be on your toes andthinking clearly in an emergency
situation.
You're to be commended andthank you for representing our
industry so well.
And thank you for representingour industry so well.
Speaker 3 (36:14):
I also think that we all think that we know what we
would do in a certain situation,but until we're tested, you
don't know.
And he did what I hoped I wouldhave done.
That's what I would have hopedto have done.
There's fight, flight or freeze, and he had the fight in it and
(36:35):
the fight was the rescuing ofthese people.
Speaker 2 (36:39):
And he did it right.
He didn't get running out therewithout his snow gear on, where
he could have been in help fortwo or three minutes, and then
he would have become acollateral damage, not for after
closing on.
But he did what he had to do.
He got out there and tookaction.
I like to say, and that is tobe commended, our hat is off to
this young man To be commended.
Speaker 3 (37:02):
To definitely be commended.
All right, that brings us.
That was our good news segment,and I'm happy that we did that
one, but what else we got goingon with?
Speaker 2 (37:11):
And we remind you, everybody, of the four show
dates, didn't we April?
And we remind you everybody ofthe Florida Toe Show dates.
Didn't we April?
We sure did.
We got an exciting announcement.
Can't release it yet it'll benext week before we release it,
but we got an excitingannouncement coming up about the
Florida Toe Show.
It looks like we're going to bethere.
Also, we're going to be therewith the Tunnels for Towers
(37:33):
program DJ.
I understand we need anothervan.
We need a 15, 17 passenger vanneeds a CDL license.
Speaker 1 (38:04):
And then I found out from one of our fellow towers up
in South Dakota he had donateda beautiful 17 passenger van to
his church and then realizedthat it was five times the
insurance.
So the pastor of his churchasked him if he could take the
(38:24):
van back.
So now Tunnel to Towers islooking for a six to seven
person van like a Dodge Caravanin that category category, so
that homeless veterans could betaken to Walmart or to a medical
(38:44):
appointment or so forth.
But if you could help out.
We're still looking and we surecould use your help if you know
somebody that has a van thatthey could donate.
Speaker 2 (38:55):
Would somebody like to help you?
Did you say like a caravan, aminivan, a full-size minivan is
what we're talking.
Speaker 1 (39:03):
Yes, a full-size minivan.
Speaker 2 (39:06):
Not up to the bigger van, not an E-150 or something.
No, that's too big.
Is that the eight or ninepassenger?
Speaker 1 (39:14):
Yeah, and they're looking for a regular driver's
license because the personthat's going to be driving the
van will be the director of thevillage.
Now, this is to help eradicatehomeless veterans in the
community.
So the two vans, one's going toa veteran center in Florida,
(39:36):
the other is going to Atlanta,the other is going to Atlanta
and then, as we come across themduring the year, we already
have one from J&R Towing out inColorado.
They were kind enough to donatea van that's going to be given
to the Denver Colorado Tunnelfor Towers later this year.
Speaker 2 (39:57):
What's here for J&R Towing?
You say J&R Towing, what's herefor them?
Speaker 1 (39:58):
Thatow you say Jay and Artow.
Speaker 2 (40:01):
What's here for them?
That's outstanding, isn't it?
Speaker 3 (40:04):
It's incredible.
Speaker 1 (40:07):
It's incredible and they donated one that was a 10
passenger, but the back seatsare taken out because the person
who was driving it who can nolonger drive now he's past his
age and the family has taken thekeys away had the full disabled
person's lift chair in the rearend of the vehicle.
(40:31):
So it was a $20,000 packagealready in the van and Tunnel to
Towers loved it, so they'regoing to use it in their Denver
Colorado location.
But the two that we're lookingfor, we have one from Steps
Towing in Florida and then we'relooking now for a six to seven
(40:54):
passenger regular van for aFlorida location.
Speaker 2 (41:00):
All right For those that don't know what Tunnels to
Towers is, because if you don't,a lot of our friends don't have
TV with commercials on them.
If you don't have TV withcommercials, you may or may not
know.
If you have TV with commercials, you almost definitely know.
Tunnels to Towers is all overthe place.
It's a great organization thatdoes a lot for vets and injured
(41:24):
all kinds of people.
Speaker 3 (41:26):
I think it started off with the injured vet and it
still does that.
It still takes care of thatfunction, which is very
necessary to now, as DJ saidearlier, trying to eradicate the
homeless vet Right, as DJ saidearlier, trying to eradicate the
homeless set.
Speaker 1 (41:40):
Right, and so what they're doing now is they're
buying up hotels, like the onethey did in Nashville.
They bought a Wyndham Hotel andthen the first floor will be
for PSTD and for employmentcenter, first aid center and
(42:01):
that kind of thing job placementand training and then the
second, third and fourth floorsare going to actually be
residences for the homelessveterans, and the vans that
we're providing are going to behelping them.
So I tell people, it's arecycled band for a recycled
(42:23):
veteran.
Speaker 2 (42:24):
You know it's such a great organization and for you
to be helping us is justoutstanding.
Dj, you're going to becommended for what you're doing
with that and we're happy tojust be a small part of helping
with it.
So right now, this FloridaCenter needs one in the short
relatively short term.
That's correct.
Speaker 1 (42:43):
Yes, and even Rob Johnson, bill Johnson's son,
spoke to me today and he had avan that they wanted to help us
use and it had a van, but it hada lot of miles on it a van, but
it was it had a lot of miles onit and the ramp came out the
(43:04):
side of the van, but it was amuch older model.
And so Bill Johnson and his sonRob, who listen to our podcast
all the time, they very kindlysaid this van's not what we want
.
Quality wisewise for tunnels totowers, Because you don't want
(43:24):
to give them something that'sgoing to break down right away.
You don't want to give them,you know, a 1950s type of van,
but they're looking for a goodrecycled van that they could use
and have the access out of therear of the vehicle.
So what does Rob and BillJohnson want to do?
(43:45):
But they want to donate to thecause to help us get a van with
good tires, and you know thatkind of thing.
Speaker 3 (43:56):
It just goes to show you the caliber of people that
we have in our industry.
Speaker 1 (44:01):
Oh, they're wonderful people and the people that
listen to this podcast.
They're very generous, warm,kind people.
So if you're out there and youwant to help in any way, contact
Wes and April at 910-747-9000or DJ Harrington at 770-301-4122
(44:24):
.
And, Wes, I can't thank youenough for letting me make my
little plea for giving away theVans on.
April 11th on Fox Televisionright there in Orlando Florida.
Speaker 2 (44:38):
DJ.
I'm happy to be a part of it.
So there's been thanks neededas far as that goes.
Um, we appreciate what you'redoing and we think it's a great
cause that needs to be helped inany way that it can.
I do want to thank one moregroup of people.
We're thanking people thoughthe members of the institute.
They're the ones that actuallypay for all this.
(44:58):
There's one.
If we didn't have them paying,we wouldn't have this podcast.
So we want to thank the membersof the Institute for their
contributions that keep thisthing afloat and allow us to do
the podcast and many differentthings it's a privilege to be a
part of.
Bj gave you the number or thewebsite address.
If you want more informationfor joining us in November, we'd
(45:20):
certainly appreciate youlooking into that.
Speaker 3 (45:24):
Yes, as Wes had just said, the members of the
Institute have reallycontributed and helped us out
with this.
It's also helped us grow thispodcast exponentially, so
everybody's a part of it.
It's all one moving mechanism.
Speaker 2 (45:40):
So we have a great announcement for next week.
We have a great guest lined upas well.
Speaker 3 (45:48):
Okay, Well, looking forward to being back here next
weekend, going over these newexciting announcements and
having our great guests DJ.
You want to close this out?
Speaker 1 (45:58):
Yes, stay warm and, as Wes always says, be safe out
there.
And we'll see you next week onthe Towing News Channel.
Welcome one and all to the American Towing Recovery
Institute podcast.
I want to remind all of youthat the American Towing
Recovery Institute aims topromote professionalism, safety
and education within the towingand recovery industry.
Remember, we provide trainingand certification programs for
towing operators.
(00:26):
We also advocate for industrystandards and best practices,
support research and develop allnew techniques, including
research and development ofelectric and alternative fuel
vehicles With extensive research, with the EV Clever app,
available now on Apple andGoogle Play stores, Foster
(00:50):
cooperation among industrystakeholders.
Please, if you need to contactus, we're always at wwwamtowri G
Now.
Here is Towing News Now.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Welcome today, friends.
Today on Towing News.
Now we're going to look at theweather impact across the
country.
Wildfires still blazing thewest coast.
Also, we're looking ahead tospring.
What's going on with training,tow shows and a whole lot more?
Plus, we have a whole segmentof news from across the country.
What's going on?
How tow trucks are making thenews good, bad and indifferent?
(01:30):
Sit back, relax and get readyfor a fresh episode of Towing
News Now on the Towing NewsNetwork.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
Wes, I believe this is episode number three of
season four.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Yes, it is.
Thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
Yep, we're rolling with it now.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
Absolutely rolling.
Yours truly, wes Wilburn, withApril Wilburn and DJ Harrington,
we're happy to be here.
Got a lot going on right now,the day we're sitting here
recording this, this recordsetting cold and snow across the
country.
Dj, we got snow here insoutheastern north carolina,
(02:09):
which you know.
Different parts of northcarolina have different weather
patterns, but this is definitelya different weather pattern for
us because we don't get snow inthis little southeastern corner
of the state and the um crazypart was is the further south
you went, the more snow therewas.
That was the crazy part yeah anduh, you're absolutely right and
(02:31):
I talked to somebody inlouisiana.
They're in northern louisiana,they didn't get much snow at all
southern louisiana got walloped.
New orleans got I don'tremember was how many inches, I
think it was eight inches eightinches is what I heard.
what I remember was it was likefrom 1895 or something was the
last time that he broke therecord for the snowfall since
1895.
(02:51):
That's outstanding and I knowone of the news reports we
didn't we could have gone withseveral of them about snow and
tow truck action across theSouth.
One of them was Mobile, alabama.
Another one was Louisiana,which we'll get to that in just
a little bit.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
There's got to be a lot of that.
Because they're not used tothis weather, people are not
used to driving in these systems, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
DJ.
How about you?
Speaker 1 (03:19):
Well, the Atlanta Airport was closed yesterday for
part of the day.
It's 13 degrees here in Canton,georgia, and school was on for
today, but the kids were out ofschool yesterday.
So there's the weather and, ofcourse, all of our prayers go
out to the people in California,because there's another fire
(03:42):
out there today.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
That's what I've seen on the news Terrible 13 degrees
currently during the daytime DJ, or is that?
Speaker 1 (03:50):
below for now.
No, it's 13 right now, Boy thatis low.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
We don't you know the teens in the South in the
daytime is something that'shardly ever happened, especially
here in the suburbs of Atlanta.
Basically correct.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
Yes, it's cold, we don't have the teens this time,
a lot of times.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
It's cold.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
Were you out there making snow angels DJ.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
The other day, yes, the other day it snowed how much
.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
We had about two inches.
Yeah, that's about what we gothere in this part of the state.
Like I said, the further southyou went, the more southern it
was.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
But underneath the snow, april was ice, and that's
the part, yep.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
We are thankful that we started off with a new
president and a newadministration.
It looks like they got thingsgoing, all the executive orders
they signed.
Obviously we're not a politicalprogram so we're not going to
get political.
We feel very good that the newadministration is an American
citizen that's out there doingstuff and we're looking forward
to that.
(05:01):
I think his drill, baby drill,did the country good before for
the price of oil.
I know the majority of thelisteners to this show do well
when diesel fuel is priced in areasonable manner and doesn't
get out on that world marketwith the prices high, demand
taking it extremely high.
(05:21):
So I feel good, great new dayin America.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
The very first time I went to TRAA Hill Days, the
senator from Florida was MarkRubio and of course he now
yesterday became Secretary ofState.
Terry Estate and his office wasso kind to everyone from TRAA
(05:48):
that we were talking to him andall of a sudden he said stay
right here.
And there was five of us.
Stay right here, the senator'scoming in right now.
He said hi to each and everyone of us and said thank you for
leaving your material about TRAwith my office.
(06:08):
That's amazing.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
That is amazing, so hopefully that's a good step in
the right direction.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
I hope so too, April.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Yeah, they got them through on the first real quick
and that's good to see, and I'mglad to see that they're moving
right along with things.
I really am.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
So what's the news now?
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Well, looking at the TOWIE news, we start with that.
I hate to have this duty, but Ifeel we need to recognize this.
Apparently, we lost a TOWIEoperator already.
I believe this is the first forthe year.
I'm searching the news andwhatnot to make sure of that.
Well, we showed up with a sadnews, reporting that a
42-year-old Maui man was killedFriday.
(06:52):
That was a week ago.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
Identified as Kilpaca Nelson of Waukee.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
At 3 o'clock in the afternoon of 2007,.
Kenwood's flatbed tow truckfailed.
To 3 o'clock in the afternoon,a 2007 10-inch flatbed tow truck
failed to navigate a right bendin a roadway, sliding into a
metal guardrail before returning, the flatbed was loaded with
six large concrete retainingwall blocks at which were
ejected, striking an unattendedvehicle nearby and a residence
(07:24):
as well.
So thank God nobody was hurtfrom that part of it.
The driver in the truck was notwearing a seatbelt and speed
was a factor in the accident.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
The investigation continues.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
Very sad story to start the year with.
We pray for everybody involved.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
Definitely, definitely, always hard to hear
that death in the towingindustry under any circumstances
, this one or any other one, andwe're hoping for a year, we're
praying for a year that we don'thave to do this, we don't have
to read these things.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
Yeah, it's a shame.
Next story takes us to Oregon.
Speaker 6 (08:07):
This is about a trial that's now happening from an
incident where a tow truck washijacked about two and a half
years ago.
Speaker 7 (08:17):
During opening statements, prosecutors showed
video that clearly shows a mannamed Eric Streitzel jumping
into the tow truck as the driverjumps onto the back to try to
stop him.
But defense attorneys arguesome of the charges don't take
into account what reallyhappened Inside a Multnomah
County courtroom Tuesday after ajury watched this video of a
(08:39):
crash following the carjackingof a tow truck.
Speaker 8 (08:43):
With Mr Crist still hanging on for dear life.
It is a miracle that this mandid not die.
Speaker 7 (08:55):
On July 10, 2023, a tow truck driver by the name of
Travis Crist was in the processof towing a car after a wreck
near the Moda Center, but beforehe knew it, the suspect, eric
Streitzel, made a move.
Here's his defense attorney.
Speaker 8 (09:06):
Unhoused, unmedicated , unstable.
He didn't exactly know what washappening moment to moment he
was walking barefoot on thesteel bridge.
He saw a tow truck idling withno one in it and, without
pausing, he jumped into that towtruck and he threw it in drive.
Speaker 7 (09:27):
Christ took the stand on day one of the trial,
recalling what was going throughhis head as he clung to the
back of his own vehicle.
Speaker 4 (09:36):
Why chase down the man stealing this very expensive
vehicle?
Speaker 6 (09:39):
down the man stealing this very expensive vehicle
it's instinct.
Speaker 9 (09:43):
I don't have a fight or flight mechanism in the
flight portion of it.
Speaker 7 (09:52):
Traveling first through Old Town then onto the
freeway.
Footage shows the speedsincreasing, the truck weaving in
and out of traffic and Criststill holding on in the back
then turning around to, as hestated, brace himself.
Speaker 6 (10:05):
I was just watching cones flying out of the way.
A lot of debris started comingup.
I was kind of hoping he wouldhave stopped long before this
portion.
Speaker 7 (10:17):
The truck would eventually come to a stop after.
Video shows it slamming into asemi, then swerving onto the
shoulder.
The aftermath displayed inthese pictures to the jury.
As the defense argued thesuspect was struggling with his
mental health.
Speaker 8 (10:36):
Those videos show pretty much everything, which
means they will also show youthat this was the result of
impulse and not intent.
Speaker 7 (10:46):
The trial resumes tomorrow morning at 9 am.
As for the victim again hangingonto the back of that truck, he
says after the crash he leftthe scene bleeding from the head
and with a shoulder injury.
Speaker 6 (10:59):
As of the airing of this podcast, towing News Now
was unable to find a medicalupdate on the operator, tyler
Christ.
If anybody knows that, we'dappreciate the 411 on that.
We are praying for theoperator's family and we also
are praying that the judicialsystem does its job.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
What do you think, DJ ?
Speaker 1 (11:26):
Boy oh boy.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
Wes, what is your suggestion when something like
that happens?
It's a horrible situation.
I know the instinct is thejunkyard dog mentality and I say
that I don't mean that in a badway but not jumping on the back
of the truck, you need to bealive to report what happened.
The gentleman, lucky, is alive.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
Yeah, I think it's instinct to do something like
that, but it's definitely notadvisable because he was
testifying in court.
So there's no long-terminjuries with that, but that
definitely could have went a lotworse than what had happened.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
Yeah, it's a horrible situation and it's good to
point that out.
This happened a couple yearsago and the thing that I have to
say rubs me the wrong waydeeply is the attorney trying to
say that because he was walkingin quiet, they didn't say it.
(12:26):
I guess they implied it is whatthey did, that he had some kind
of right to take that tow truckbecause he was walking on the
bridge barefooted.
Speaker 3 (12:37):
I don't think that she said that, but she
definitely played the sympathycard because she said he was
unhoused, unstable and anotherunborn.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
I forget what the unborn was, but he wasn't
responsible for his actionsbecause and she also implied
that, if I remember correctly,that because he was barefoot on
the grave at least that's what Iremember that was the
motivation that he saidsomething he didn't even think
about and just instinctivelystole water Instinctively got in
, got in the seat, put his footon the brakes, put the
(13:09):
extinguishing gear and drove andsteered it away.
Speaker 3 (13:12):
He instinctively did that.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
First instinct was to steal something of great, great
value.
Because they, because he hadshoes, sometimes for that, why
he didn't have shoes on his feet, walk across the bridge at that
moment does not decide hisproblem, in my opinion.
But what do I know?
Speaker 3 (13:33):
I thought truck operators would probably would
have bought him a pair of shoesyou're right about that yeah
some of the nicest people DJ.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
What do you think about all that?
Speaker 1 (13:43):
Boy, oh boy, wes, I don't myself.
It's a stolen vehicle, nomatter what.
But I'm not an attorney.
And today you know if you steala person's property, you stole
it Absolutely.
And then you went to a rear endof an 18-wheeler person's
(14:04):
property.
You stole Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
And then he went to a rear end of an 18-wheeler.
You're right about that too, tj, that whole police chase that
you know.
He led them on the way.
He drove that truck and ran inthe back of that.
He had no concern aboutanything his own life, anybody
around him's life that couldhave turned out really, really
bad.
I think there's a reporter inthe field who has one more story
(14:27):
for us.
What do you got All right?
Speaker 3 (14:31):
I have this poor guy, Felix Calcedo, in Northern
California.
This is from the Mountain ViewVoice.
This is where we got thisinformation from On April, the
12th 2023, he towed a Tesla.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
He's a tow operator.
He's a tow operator.
Speaker 3 (14:49):
He towed a Tesla, did all the things that he was
supposed to do and, as it sohappens, it was owned by.
At the time she was a citycouncil person, ellen Kamai.
She's now the mayor, but shetowed his car.
Ms Kamai and her husband cameand paid the fines, complained
to the MLA and then the next dayhe was interrogated by Sergeant
(15:14):
Christopher Troth a potentialunlawful towing involving that
Tesla.
The police report said thatGoss investigated the incident
and met with us on April 13th.
Speaker 2 (15:27):
This was the police chief correct Says Sergeant.
Okay, police.
Member of the police department.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
Yeah, according to the lawsuit, goss regretted the
interrogated Falsito and accusedhim of improper towing.
The encounter led Falsito tobelieve that Cabayan, her
husband, contacted ahigh-ranking official to
complain about the tow and thatGoff was assigned to the
investigation.
To get back at Mr Falsito andhe's filed a civil rights action
(15:56):
, court against or case against.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
So let me get this straight.
The towing operator towed aTesla.
Everybody thought it was goingto be a Tesla on fire story or
something.
Catch y'all on that one towed a.
Tesla did his job, like manytow operators do every day here
in America.
The then city council woman,now mayor, didn't like it.
(16:22):
She had to shut the police downto investigate and interrogate
from what I remember reading theco-operator and the city
council lady now mayor was hardto deal with, wasn't it
Something about that?
When they came to pick up thecar.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
Oh yeah, and calling it a fine, it wasn't a fine.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
They were paying a topey, wasn't it Something about
that?
When they came to pick up thecar, oh yeah, and calling it a
fine, it wasn't a fine they werepaying a tow fee, not a fine,
but they had that ground.
So anyway, they harassed thetowor apparently, or alleged
anyway.
Now the towor is suing them andsettled for it.
Speaker 3 (16:57):
Yeah, it says.
The lawsuit is seeking torecover compensatory and
punitive damages, as well as thecost of account fees and civil
penalties.
Speaker 2 (17:08):
As I've always said, this business is really tough.
It is a tough business.
You have to be tough to be init.
Speaker 3 (17:13):
You have to be tough in it because somebody likes
their car to be towed, nobodydoes.
You're not having a good day.
I don't care what thecircumstances of your car being
towed.
Your day is not a good day whenthat happens.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
Yeah, but you know it's also a personal
responsibility.
They've got to takeresponsibility for it, if that
is correct with that lawsuit andwith that lawsuit alleged yeah,
alleged yeah.
Then that's the worst thingthat can happen.
That's someone taking politicalpower and trying to put their
thumb down on the working person.
Speaker 3 (17:44):
And if that's what happens, more power to him,
because he's strong enough tostand up against it.
Right and then everybody is.
Speaker 2 (17:52):
So we'll follow this case closely.
So we've got several morestories we want to share with
you, but it's time to take aquick break.
We'll be right back after aquick break.
Speaker 11 (18:13):
For all your ringing needs.
Give us a look attowingequipmentdirectcom or
email us at info at amtowriorg.
Also, you can give us a call at910-747-9000.
Speaker 10 (18:23):
Information in this podcast is made possible by
generous sponsorship fromHenry's Wrecker, serving the
community with quality towingand recovery for over 40 years.
Henryswreckercom.
Speaker 1 (18:33):
Welcome back listeners.
You know you're listening toApril and Wes Wilburn and DJ
Harrington, the tow doctor onthe new Towing News channel,
doing this new segment calledTowing News.
Now, wes, I'll turn it backover to you in April.
Speaker 2 (18:51):
Thanks, dj.
I certainly appreciate that.
We're happy to be back.
We've got a couple more storieswe want to go to A reporter.
Cannonball Clankard did anotherstory about something going on
in southeast Kansas, so we'll goto that next.
Speaker 6 (19:04):
Tragic news to report out of southeastern Kansas.
On January 22, 2025, a man waskilled and a woman suffered
serious injuries when a car anda tow truck collided.
Car in a tow truck collided.
The Kansas Highway Patrolreported that the Volkswagen
(19:28):
Jetta stopped at a stop sign andthen began to cross the highway
, failing to yield to asouthbound tow truck.
Two vehicles collided in theintersection.
The man driving the Jetta, a79-year-old out of Venta,
oklahoma, died at the scene.
His 73-year-old passenger wastaken to the hospital for
treatment.
The 23-year-old driver of thetow truck was towing a pickup
(19:53):
truck was not hurt.
All those involved were wearingseatbelts.
No further details wereavailable at the time of this
podcast.
Speaker 2 (20:01):
Boy.
That's a bad situation.
There Sounds like an elderlyperson driving.
No further details wereavailable at the time of this
podcast 70s and I gotta believethey didn't see the tow truck
compared to.
(20:22):
They didn't obey the stop signis what it's indicated as.
So it's a tough, toughsituation.
It goes to show you anythingcan happen anywhere at any time.
Can't stress enough to be alertwhen you're approaching
intersections, especially that'swhere the majority of accidents
happen at.
So and again our prayers go outto the families involved.
(20:47):
That's tough for everybodyinvolved, including the towing
operator Still involved, stilldeals with.
There's a lot of gruesome stuffto deal with in a situation
like that.
A lot of emotional stuff Downthe road, even if you can be
right as rain, if they'll beinvolved in litigation
unfortunately so I pray foreverybody involved and I'm very
(21:10):
sorry to hear about that yeah,that's really.
Speaker 3 (21:13):
That's just really really bad.
I mean, almost everything isabortable.
But that's hindsight, that's alot of hindsight we got another
situation that's similar to this.
Speaker 2 (21:25):
We don't know the outcome of it, uh, yet happened
down in louisiana and here'skind of a similar accident as
well, where a bad situationappeared it was thursday morning
, just before 7 30 when theCaddo Parish Sheriff's Office
got called to the crash on NorthMarket Street.
Speaker 9 (21:46):
Three of the seven students and the driver of the
school bus number 739 went tothe hospital after it was
rear-ended by the driver of atow truck.
The driver of the tow truckremains in critical condition.
The Sheriff's Office says theglare from the sun kept the tow
truck driver from seeing thestopped bus.
(22:06):
A statement sent out by theschool district said we also are
incredibly thankful for thequick actions of our bus driver,
whose composure and focusprioritize the safety of the
children on board.
Prioritize the safety of thechildren on board.
This situation serves as areminder of the care and
dedication shown every day byour bus drivers and staff.
(22:27):
We want to express our deepestgratitude to the emergency
responders from the Caddo ParishSheriff's Office, caddo Fire
District 1, for their swift andprofessional response.
This is a developing story andwe will have more information as
it becomes available.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
That's a very tough situation there.
A school bus hit For theSheriff's Department to make the
statement about the son beingso blinding in that position.
That's a pretty strongstatement for an law enforcement
officer to make, that shortlyafter an accident, especially
one involving a school bus.
So the driver of the tow truck.
(23:08):
From what we understand, wehave a known towing resource in
that area that gave us theinformation that unfortunately
the driver of the tow truck wasseverely injured Still in stable
condition but severely injured.
So it's a bad, bad situationand it's something that every
(23:31):
towing professional, drivingprofessional, just people that
drive on the highway shouldthink about.
Extra vigilant time of year withschool buses out.
I know the sun can be blindingwhen we come here and head
towards town.
Certain times of the yearDirectly headed towards town can
be blinding and looking to thewest into the sun.
(23:54):
So I just can't stress enoughfor everybody listening to the
podcast to talk to everybodythat they work with all their
comrades and pay extra attentionduring school bus times, pay
extra attention if there'sissues with the sun, you should
keep a following distance, etcetera.
Speaker 3 (24:16):
Yeah, the two different things is you know
you're a tow truck operator, soyou can't wait for the sun to be
at a certain position in thesky and you can't wait for the
school buses to not be on theroad.
But if you could do that,that's a good option.
But when you respond to thatcall, you just have to kind of
get to know your roads and yourareas a little bit better.
Speaker 2 (24:39):
Give yourself extra time and distance.
Speaker 3 (24:41):
Yeah, the sun is blinding, though You're coming
up to a light, a red light or agreen light, and it's you know
again, it must have been asevere factor for police and ray
.
Speaker 2 (24:57):
That's not the law to the law enforcement for the
news to put out there so we gotanother story out of kentucky.
It's not a great story, uh, butit is happened.
Speaker 4 (25:07):
Let's go correspond in the field the story comes to
us out of louisville, kentucky alouisville firefighter is out
of jail tonight after beingarrested for running over a tow
truck operator.
Sergeant Ramiro Rodriguez wasarraigned today on assault and
other charges.
According to court records,jefferson Town Police called a
wrecker to move an abandoned caras it was being hooked up.
(25:30):
Police say Rodriguez came backand said that he had gone to get
gas.
He's accused of threatening thedriver after being forced to
pay a fee to get his car.
Police say he then followed thedriver back to his offices and
hit two other tow truck driverswho tried to intervene.
Rodriguez has been placed onadministrative leave.
Speaker 6 (25:49):
Just to clarify the alleged criminal was driving a
vehicle when he hit the twotowing operators that intervened
.
Speaker 2 (25:58):
Boy, that's a horrible story.
They make a big deal about himbeing a firefighter, but she was
not acting in an officialcapacity and was not acting to a
standard that I normally knowfirefighters hold themselves to.
It was just a horriblesituation.
The fact that he hit him withthe car says a lot.
Speaker 3 (26:19):
Yeah, really, it really does say a lot.
So since we're in Kentucky,let's just stay here for a
minute.
I came across an article.
There's a new bill that wouldprovide safety blue lights for
tow truck drivers in Kentucky,and I don't know how everybody
feels about that.
I think people are on one sideof that or the other.
You know is blue lights toomuch.
But here's why they did it.
(26:40):
In September 2024, there was adeath of a 54-year-old tow truck
operator.
The gentleman's name was TroyCodwell.
He was in I-64 during a tow joband then State Representative
Richard Whittemore had filed abill that would provide workers
with safety lights.
That death caused that bill topass Again.
(27:03):
Don't know what side people areon in this plan.
That's a mixed bag, but atleast the state is being
proactive with something.
Speaker 2 (27:14):
It's a great thing, as long as they're not abused.
It's a known fact that bluelights flashing, red lights
flashing rearward, slow trafficdown, way better than yellow
lights.
Again, there's just always, aslong as they're not abused.
Speaker 3 (27:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:30):
That has happened, unfortunately it does say.
Speaker 3 (27:32):
The measure details that the bull legs could be used
while moving a vehicle ordebris from the road, but not
used while actively towing themon the highway.
And that is where people get alittle bit.
Speaker 2 (27:45):
Good, yeah, one of the better legislations I've
seen speaks of, you know, usingthe lights rearward facing and
wide stationary only, and alsowhile clearing an accident scene
.
I think it does say somethingto that effect.
That's good, responsiblelegislation that will help both
sides, it's positive.
Speaker 3 (28:04):
Yeah, absolutely.
Whether or not you agree withblue lights or not, blue lights
at least is positive.
Speaker 2 (28:09):
Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (28:10):
I think we can go to a break and come back with the
rest of the story.
What do you think, Wes?
Speaker 1 (28:16):
Sure, all right.
So we'll take a break and we'llbe right back.
Speaker 11 (28:28):
For electric and other alternative fuel vehicles.
We have developed an app thatgives you all the manufacturers
411 for when that 911 happens.
Whether you are a fire tow orpolice, we got you covered.
To find the EV Clever app, goto your Apple or Google Play
store for a 30-day free trial.
Speaker 5 (28:46):
We also offer the National Tow Operator
Certification an independentlysourced virtual testing program
covering light duty, heavy duty.
Speaker 1 (28:56):
Independently sourced virtual testing program
covering light duty, heavy duty,electric and alternative fuel
vehicle.
Welcome back listeners.
You know you're listening tothe new Towing News channel and
we are available every week.
Please remember to mark it down.
We're available on Spotify,iTunes, pandora, stitcher,
iheartmedia, amazon or whereveryou get your podcasts.
(29:18):
We can't thank you enough tolike, review and share with all
your friends.
So, without further ado, let mesend you back over to Wes and
April Wilber.
Speaker 3 (29:31):
Welcome back everybody.
This is going to be a greatyear for training, with us
starting in February.
On February the 8th we're goingto have a one-day dance of a
light duty at Phillips Towing inFayetteville, north Carolina.
Also in February the 18th orthe 20th, we're doing three
one-day EV training courseselectric vehicle courses with
(29:53):
Statewide towing associations inMassachusetts.
Those locations will beannounced soon.
In March, march 7th, we'rehaving a two-hour ED class
that's a free one to attend atCP Rucker in conjunction with
Griffin Griffin in Opa-Lucka,alabama.
Also in Opa-Lucka, alabama, onthe 8th and 9th, saturday and
(30:14):
Sunday, we're having a two-dayheavy duty rotator course with
CP Rector in conjunction withGriffin and Griffin.
Friday, march 21st, in Liberty,at Liberty Towing in Worganton,
north Carolina, we're doinganother two-hour EV course and
then that, following Saturdayand Sunday, march 22nd 23rd,
(30:35):
we're doing another freetwo-hour EV course and then that
, following Saturday and Sunday,march 22nd 23rd, we're doing a
two-day heavy-duty course atLiberty Towing in Morganton,
north Carolina, and that isMarch 22nd and 23rd.
In April, starting off in April1 to 4th, we're having a
two-hour EV course that's freeto attend, also at All-County
(30:57):
Towing in Long Island, new York,and then on the 5th in Long
Island we're doing a one-daylight-duty class and then on
April the 6th, we're doing aone-day heavy-duty course Again.
That's in All-County Towing inLong Island, new York.
It looks like April is a bigmonth for us because the 10th to
(31:18):
the 12th is the Florida ToeShow.
On the 10th we're doing aone-day course with Florida Toe
Association.
It's going to be heavy-duty,focusing on electric and what's
coming up with that, and then inthat we're also doing a Tunnel
to Tower with our good friend DJHarrington event.
(31:39):
We're excited about that andthat will be on the 11th.
That brings us to May.
On May 2nd, on the Friday, we'redoing a one-day light duty in
St Louis, missouri, with J&IHauling.
On the 3rd and 4th, which isSaturday and Sunday, we're doing
a two-day heavy duty withRotator In St Louis, also with
(31:59):
J&I towing, and on the 6th andthe 7th to the 7th, which is
Monday, tuesday, wednesday, it'sa three-day extreme advanced
level heavy duty With TomLuciano and it's also in St
Louis, missouri.
We have prices for that.
We're raking that up to theseparate classes.
It was all through the packageand now we're raking it up, so
(32:24):
look online for prices for those.
Then in June 6th through the8th, we'll be at the Estrato
Show in Lake George, new York.
On the 6th we're hosting a liveauction there.
We're excited about that.
This will be our third year thatwe're doing it.
On June, the 20th, on Friday,we're doing a class at 24-hour
towing in Medford, oregon.
(32:44):
That's a light duty.
And then on the 21st and 22nd,also in Medford Oregon, for JAR
24 towing, we're doing a two-dayheavy duty with sportotator.
Then in October we're doing athree-day heavy stream advanced
level class in Buffalo, new York.
I'm looking forward to thatbecause that's going to put us
(33:06):
really close to Niagara Fallsand I'm going to go there.
So that's October 3rd to the5th.
Friday, Saturday, sunday forthat three-day class and we hope
to see you there.
Speaker 1 (33:15):
Thanks, April, for that training update and, Wes,
I'm going to send it right backover to you.
Speaker 2 (33:20):
Well, thank you, DJ.
I want to thank all ourlisteners as well.
The group of listeners keepsclimbing.
We're almost at 17,000listeners to this podcast.
That's very humbling.
It's growing every week.
Social media numbers up.
I'll go over them all, but it'sexciting, isn't it?
(33:41):
April?
Speaker 3 (33:42):
It really, really is.
We are just growing.
It seemed like real slow andthen it just felt like overnight
, but I know it wasn't.
We have really really grownthroughout these last few years
and I do feel like 2025 is justgoing to be a better year for
everybody, and these numberskind of indicate that.
(34:03):
What the numbers represent areindividual people out there who
are actively involved with us inone way or the other, and that
is so duly appreciated.
Speaker 2 (34:15):
So we've got one more news story from the field.
Just listen to that last story.
It's a good story.
Then we've got some other goodnews to talk about.
Speaker 6 (34:23):
It's a great story coming to us out of northeast
Wisconsin.
Speaker 5 (34:28):
The crash that happened alongside Gillingham
Road could have ended up a lotdifferently if one man didn't
decide to stop the up and helpthose in need during freezing
conditions On Monday night.
Tanner Adder, a tow truckdriver, says he was getting
ready to leave his apartment forwork when he heard a boom.
Speaker 10 (34:43):
I happened to see a car laying on its side when I
stepped out and a lady screamingfor help.
Speaker 5 (34:48):
Adder ran back inside his home and called 911.
He then says he put on his snowgear, grabbed a fire
extinguisher and drove his towtruck around the block to the
crash along Gillingham Road, notfar from Breezewood Lane.
Speaker 10 (34:59):
The lady was sitting on top of the vehicle right
here holding the door open,saying her husband was trapped
inside.
Speaker 5 (35:05):
Adder says he put out a fire and helped the woman off
of the car.
Speaker 10 (35:08):
I came back, jumped on top of the car, opened the
door open, seeing her husbandlaying at the at the bottom of
the car by that time.
He says he had some help as Iwas trying to pull him up.
The officer arrived on scene,extinguished the fire that was
in the engine bay again and thencame around.
I helped him up on top of thevehicle and he assisted me with
(35:31):
getting the man out of the outof the car.
Speaker 5 (35:35):
If it wasn't for you being on scene and reacting in
the timely manner that you did,do you think those people would
still be here?
Speaker 10 (35:41):
I don't think the husband would have made it.
To be honest, I think thehusband would have died.
Speaker 5 (35:45):
NENA police have praised Adder for his heroic
actions and coming quickly tothe help of people in need.
The NENA police department toldme that the woman that Adder
helped has been treated andreleased from the hospital.
As for her husband, well, he'sstill in the hospital, but they
don't know what his conditionsare as of right now.
Speaker 6 (36:00):
Good job, tanner Adder.
Way to be on your toes andthinking clearly in an emergency
situation.
You're to be commended andthank you for representing our
industry so well.
And thank you for representingour industry so well.
Speaker 3 (36:14):
I also think that we all think that we know what we
would do in a certain situation,but until we're tested, you
don't know.
And he did what I hoped I wouldhave done.
That's what I would have hopedto have done.
There's fight, flight or freeze, and he had the fight in it and
(36:35):
the fight was the rescuing ofthese people.
Speaker 2 (36:39):
And he did it right.
He didn't get running out therewithout his snow gear on, where
he could have been in help fortwo or three minutes, and then
he would have become acollateral damage, not for after
closing on.
But he did what he had to do.
He got out there and tookaction.
I like to say, and that is tobe commended, our hat is off to
this young man To be commended.
Speaker 3 (37:02):
To definitely be commended.
All right, that brings us.
That was our good news segment,and I'm happy that we did that
one, but what else we got goingon with?
Speaker 2 (37:11):
And we remind you, everybody, of the four show
dates, didn't we April?
And we remind you everybody ofthe Florida Toe Show dates.
Didn't we April?
We sure did.
We got an exciting announcement.
Can't release it yet it'll benext week before we release it,
but we got an excitingannouncement coming up about the
Florida Toe Show.
It looks like we're going to bethere.
Also, we're going to be therewith the Tunnels for Towers
(37:33):
program DJ.
I understand we need anothervan.
We need a 15, 17 passenger vanneeds a CDL license.
Speaker 1 (38:04):
And then I found out from one of our fellow towers up
in South Dakota he had donateda beautiful 17 passenger van to
his church and then realizedthat it was five times the
insurance.
So the pastor of his churchasked him if he could take the
(38:24):
van back.
So now Tunnel to Towers islooking for a six to seven
person van like a Dodge Caravanin that category category, so
that homeless veterans could betaken to Walmart or to a medical
(38:44):
appointment or so forth.
But if you could help out.
We're still looking and we surecould use your help if you know
somebody that has a van thatthey could donate.
Speaker 2 (38:55):
Would somebody like to help you?
Did you say like a caravan, aminivan, a full-size minivan is
what we're talking.
Speaker 1 (39:03):
Yes, a full-size minivan.
Speaker 2 (39:06):
Not up to the bigger van, not an E-150 or something.
No, that's too big.
Is that the eight or ninepassenger?
Speaker 1 (39:14):
Yeah, and they're looking for a regular driver's
license because the personthat's going to be driving the
van will be the director of thevillage.
Now, this is to help eradicatehomeless veterans in the
community.
So the two vans, one's going toa veteran center in Florida,
(39:36):
the other is going to Atlanta,the other is going to Atlanta
and then, as we come across themduring the year, we already
have one from J&R Towing out inColorado.
They were kind enough to donatea van that's going to be given
to the Denver Colorado Tunnelfor Towers later this year.
Speaker 2 (39:57):
What's here for J&R Towing?
You say J&R Towing, what's herefor them?
Speaker 1 (39:58):
Thatow you say Jay and Artow.
Speaker 2 (40:01):
What's here for them?
That's outstanding, isn't it?
Speaker 3 (40:04):
It's incredible.
Speaker 1 (40:07):
It's incredible and they donated one that was a 10
passenger, but the back seatsare taken out because the person
who was driving it who can nolonger drive now he's past his
age and the family has taken thekeys away had the full disabled
person's lift chair in the rearend of the vehicle.
(40:31):
So it was a $20,000 packagealready in the van and Tunnel to
Towers loved it, so they'regoing to use it in their Denver
Colorado location.
But the two that we're lookingfor, we have one from Steps
Towing in Florida and then we'relooking now for a six to seven
(40:54):
passenger regular van for aFlorida location.
Speaker 2 (41:00):
All right For those that don't know what Tunnels to
Towers is, because if you don't,a lot of our friends don't have
TV with commercials on them.
If you don't have TV withcommercials, you may or may not
know.
If you have TV with commercials, you almost definitely know.
Tunnels to Towers is all overthe place.
It's a great organization thatdoes a lot for vets and injured
(41:24):
all kinds of people.
Speaker 3 (41:26):
I think it started off with the injured vet and it
still does that.
It still takes care of thatfunction, which is very
necessary to now, as DJ saidearlier, trying to eradicate the
homeless vet Right, as DJ saidearlier, trying to eradicate the
homeless set.
Speaker 1 (41:40):
Right, and so what they're doing now is they're
buying up hotels, like the onethey did in Nashville.
They bought a Wyndham Hotel andthen the first floor will be
for PSTD and for employmentcenter, first aid center and
(42:01):
that kind of thing job placementand training and then the
second, third and fourth floorsare going to actually be
residences for the homelessveterans, and the vans that
we're providing are going to behelping them.
So I tell people, it's arecycled band for a recycled
(42:23):
veteran.
Speaker 2 (42:24):
You know it's such a great organization and for you
to be helping us is justoutstanding.
Dj, you're going to becommended for what you're doing
with that and we're happy tojust be a small part of helping
with it.
So right now, this FloridaCenter needs one in the short
relatively short term.
That's correct.
Speaker 1 (42:43):
Yes, and even Rob Johnson, bill Johnson's son,
spoke to me today and he had avan that they wanted to help us
use and it had a van, but it hada lot of miles on it a van, but
it was it had a lot of miles onit and the ramp came out the
(43:04):
side of the van, but it was amuch older model.
And so Bill Johnson and his sonRob, who listen to our podcast
all the time, they very kindlysaid this van's not what we want
.
Quality wisewise for tunnels totowers, Because you don't want
(43:24):
to give them something that'sgoing to break down right away.
You don't want to give them,you know, a 1950s type of van,
but they're looking for a goodrecycled van that they could use
and have the access out of therear of the vehicle.
So what does Rob and BillJohnson want to do?
(43:45):
But they want to donate to thecause to help us get a van with
good tires, and you know thatkind of thing.
Speaker 3 (43:56):
It just goes to show you the caliber of people that
we have in our industry.
Speaker 1 (44:01):
Oh, they're wonderful people and the people that
listen to this podcast.
They're very generous, warm,kind people.
So if you're out there and youwant to help in any way, contact
Wes and April at 910-747-9000or DJ Harrington at 770-301-4122
(44:24):
.
And, Wes, I can't thank youenough for letting me make my
little plea for giving away theVans on.
April 11th on Fox Televisionright there in Orlando Florida.
Speaker 2 (44:38):
DJ.
I'm happy to be a part of it.
So there's been thanks neededas far as that goes.
Um, we appreciate what you'redoing and we think it's a great
cause that needs to be helped inany way that it can.
I do want to thank one moregroup of people.
We're thanking people thoughthe members of the institute.
They're the ones that actuallypay for all this.
(44:58):
There's one.
If we didn't have them paying,we wouldn't have this podcast.
So we want to thank the membersof the Institute for their
contributions that keep thisthing afloat and allow us to do
the podcast and many differentthings it's a privilege to be a
part of.
Bj gave you the number or thewebsite address.
If you want more informationfor joining us in November, we'd
(45:20):
certainly appreciate youlooking into that.
Speaker 3 (45:24):
Yes, as Wes had just said, the members of the
Institute have reallycontributed and helped us out
with this.
It's also helped us grow thispodcast exponentially, so
everybody's a part of it.
It's all one moving mechanism.
Speaker 2 (45:40):
So we have a great announcement for next week.
We have a great guest lined upas well.
Speaker 3 (45:48):
Okay, Well, looking forward to being back here next
weekend, going over these newexciting announcements and
having our great guests DJ.
You want to close this out?
Speaker 1 (45:58):
Yes, stay warm and, as Wes always says, be safe out
there.
And we'll see you next week onthe Towing News Channel.
Popular Podcasts
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.