Tow Truck Drivers Reflect on Highway Risks

is facing charges of vehicular homicide… leaving the scene of an accident… driving under the influence… and careless driving resulting in death. he is being held on a one-million dollar bond. last night’s accident is a stark reminder of the dangers troopers face every day. and there’s another group of drivers.. almost always out there with police at accident scenes.. putting their lives on the line. krdo newschannel 13’s scott harrison is live along interstate 25 near ??? scott, you spoke with a driver who knows how dangerous i-25 can be. tow truck drivers hope last night’s tragedy serves as an important reminder: move over. flashing lights didn’t protect a state trooper hit and killed by a vehicle sunday night. truck drivers share the same risk. “every time a truck goes by, you feel the sweater pull up from the wind, and you can swear you’re almost getting hit.” julian cisneros is regional manager of auto towing in the springs… and says the dangers of roadside assistance is always there. “we’re extremel concerned about something like that happening on dry roads. with the weather coming in as strong as it is today, we want to heighten and raise the awareness. bad weather, darkness, heavy traffic and unsafe driving… they’re all factors in whether a driver can or can’t see that emergency vehicle pulled over with the emergency personnel, even with flashing lights and wearing reflective gear.” it’s been ten years since colorado passed the “move ove law” requirin drivers to slow down, pull over or drive as far around stopped emergency vehicles as you can. every state has a similar law. “i see cars movin over, but i’m not so sure they know it’s a law as much as maybe they think they’re doing a common courtesy.” law- enforcement deaths have decreased from 16, during the law’s first year… to ten last year. but tow drivers are still dying at the rate of one every six days. “utility workers, construction trucks, anybody who has a light bar that’s working on the top of their roof, you need to move over.” a message …tow drivers hope … sinks in. “we just want t make sure that nobody loses a life out here.” if you’re caught breaking the “move ove law,” you face fine of 170- dollars … and 4 points off your driver’s license. live along 1-25, scott harrison, krdo newschannel 13. new