Everyday KY Tow Hero
Round of applause to Stephen Mulberry of Owens Wrecker Service who helped police catch the driver who hit this 12-year-old girl and drove away!
The 12 year-old girl who was struck by a hit-and-run driver Monday needs surgery to repair her injured knees.
The girl, Meghan Roehrich, was with her younger brother about 3 p.m. when a van driving toward Corbin on Cumberland Falls Highway struck her, according to Angie Cook, owner of This & That, a business located next to the Roehrichs’ home.
The van never stopped after the girl was struck.
Cook, who was among those who dialed 911, said she ran outside to help Meghan. Another neighbor, Rita Hensler, who said she heard a “thud” then looked outside her window only to see Meghan on the highway, also dialed 911. Hensler went outside to see if the girl was conscious and a passerby who stopped to help told her an ambulance was already on its way.
As they waited for the ambulance, cook said Meghan was quiet at first, then she asked for her father, Stephen Roehrich, who was already by her side, Cook said. Meghan then asked for Cook’s son, who had attended Oak Grove Elementary School with her.
Cook said her sons held sheets above Meghan to shield her from the hot sun.
“She didn’t cry one time,” Cook said, adding that Meghan did say her back hurt as rescuers and good Samaritans helped to transfer her onto a gurney.
Hensler said she later talked to Meghan’s grandmother and heard the girl had been transferred from Baptist Regional Medical Center to University of Kentucky Medical Center.
“When they said they airlifted her, we knew she was in trouble,” Hensler said.
Corbin police said the girl was in serious condition Monday. On Tuesday, Cook said a family member told her Meghan was in fair condition and was expected to have surgery to repair injuries to her leg and knee.
Cook also said Meghan had stitches to repair an injury to her head and that her pelvis was fractured.
Hensler said the highway remained closed for two hours as the police investigation began.
After Meghan was struck, a description of the van was announced over the radio. A tow truck driver, Stephen Mulberry of Owens Wrecker Service, spotted the van and followed it to a residence on the northeast corner of 11th Street and Kentucky Avenue. Several minutes later, Col. Bruce Rains of the Corbin Police Department arrested the driver, Michael Petrey, 42.
Petrey was booked into the Whitley County Detention Center Monday and charged with second-degree assault, leaving the scene of an accident, driving without a license and failure to maintain required insurance, according to Whitley County Detention Center records.
The investigation by Corbin police continues.
To help collections are being taken to benefit Meghan Roehrich, 12, who suffered serious injuries after she was struck by a hit-and-run driver Monday.
Angie Cook, owner of This & That, located along Cumberland Falls Highway between I-75 and KY 727, said she will donate to the Roehrich family half of her profit from sales at her store Wednesday and Thursday. She will also have a jar taking cash donations. Hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cook has arranged for donations to be accepted and a moment of prayer for the Roehrich family to be observed Friday at a free karaoke night in the parking lot of Sing and Dance. The event begins at 7:30 p.m.
Oak Grove Elementary School is collecting money and gift cards for the Roehrich family. For more information, call 549-7867
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Friday, July 30, 2010
Tow Truck Operator Gets 14 Years In Plea Deal
Saturday, July 24, 2010CA Tow Truck Operator Gets 14 Years In Plea Deal
Here's an update in the long-running case of CA tow truck operator Vincent Cardinalli from the Hollister Free Lance:
In a move that took prosecutors by surprise, a tow truck operator who has spent three years in jail awaiting trial pleaded no contest to 99 felonies and one misdemeanor.
Vincent Cardinalli, a 67-year-old San Benito County resident, pleaded no contest to a litany of embezzlement, perjury, forgery and other charges the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office brought against him after uncovering a tow and sue scam Cardinalli ran with his two children and a son-in-law. He will likely serve 14 years in prison, said prosecutor Victor Chen, who just took over the massive case this week. He credited former prosecutor Dale Lohman and one of the scam's victims, Greg Adler, with the work leading up to the plea.
Without them, "he would clearly still be victimizing people," Chen said.
Chen met with Cardinalli's defense attorney this morning for a readiness hearing prior to his trial, which was scheduled to take place Aug. 16. At previous hearings, "every offer he floated to us was ridiculous," Chen said. "We certainly didn't expect him to plead today."
Chen said he expects a sentencing hearing to be scheduled later this year.
Earlier this year, Cardinalli's son, tow truck operator Paul Greer, 33, pleaded no contest to 59 felony counts, according to prosecutors. His charges included 26 counts of attempted grand theft, 14 counts of perjury, 13 counts of subornation of perjury, three counts of embezzlement and one count each of conspiracy to obstruct justice, presentation of false evidence and burglary. Greer will receive eight years in prison, Lohman said earlier this year.
Cardinalli's daughter, Rosemary Ball, 35, also pleaded no contest to one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice, one count of attempted grand theft and one count of perjury, according to the District Attorney's office. Her husband, Michael Ball, 39, pleaded no contest to one felony count of attempted grand theft. They will be sentenced to between four and six months of county jail and 150 days of electronic monitoring
Here's an update in the long-running case of CA tow truck operator Vincent Cardinalli from the Hollister Free Lance:
In a move that took prosecutors by surprise, a tow truck operator who has spent three years in jail awaiting trial pleaded no contest to 99 felonies and one misdemeanor.
Vincent Cardinalli, a 67-year-old San Benito County resident, pleaded no contest to a litany of embezzlement, perjury, forgery and other charges the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office brought against him after uncovering a tow and sue scam Cardinalli ran with his two children and a son-in-law. He will likely serve 14 years in prison, said prosecutor Victor Chen, who just took over the massive case this week. He credited former prosecutor Dale Lohman and one of the scam's victims, Greg Adler, with the work leading up to the plea.
Without them, "he would clearly still be victimizing people," Chen said.
Chen met with Cardinalli's defense attorney this morning for a readiness hearing prior to his trial, which was scheduled to take place Aug. 16. At previous hearings, "every offer he floated to us was ridiculous," Chen said. "We certainly didn't expect him to plead today."
Chen said he expects a sentencing hearing to be scheduled later this year.
Earlier this year, Cardinalli's son, tow truck operator Paul Greer, 33, pleaded no contest to 59 felony counts, according to prosecutors. His charges included 26 counts of attempted grand theft, 14 counts of perjury, 13 counts of subornation of perjury, three counts of embezzlement and one count each of conspiracy to obstruct justice, presentation of false evidence and burglary. Greer will receive eight years in prison, Lohman said earlier this year.
Cardinalli's daughter, Rosemary Ball, 35, also pleaded no contest to one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice, one count of attempted grand theft and one count of perjury, according to the District Attorney's office. Her husband, Michael Ball, 39, pleaded no contest to one felony count of attempted grand theft. They will be sentenced to between four and six months of county jail and 150 days of electronic monitoring
Monday, July 26, 2010
Can I Make An Automobile Donation Even If The Vehicle Doesn’t Run?
Automobile Donation Process
This is always being asked. People often only donate a car that that likely would not sell that easily. So it makes sense that a large number of donations are automobiles that don’t run. This is a great way to help out but you have to be sure your donation is going to help and not cost the charity more to process then they will get out of it.
Many charities work with a wrecker. This is the company that will come out and tow your old automobile for donation. They also process the automobile and sell off the part if the vehicle isn’t able to be fixed and can send it out to be repaired if there is only a couple things wrong with it. You really need to just talk with the charity you plan to make an automobile donation too and see what system the have set up for donations of this type.
There was a recent story from Winnipeg, Canada where a wrecker was donating the proceeds from every recycled car they processed in a year to Habitat for Humanity. The whole goal was to be able to build a house for a local family. A great goal and an example of how a charity can work with the wrecker to achieve a common goal.
The main thing you have to be sure of is that the charity is able to process this type of donation. Not every charity is set up to handle automobile donations that don’t run. It is a simple process with little cost. With an automobile donation that does not run then there are added processing cost, repairs, towing , etc. This can cost far more then the actual value of the car and this of course defeats the purpose of donating.
Talk with charities and find out if they can handle this type of automobile donation. Then you can be assured that you are going to make the biggest contribution instead of costing money in the end.
There are a few considerations in donating an automobile that doesn’t run. The tires need to be inflated. The automobile will need to be towed or loaded onto a flatbed truck to be taken away and if the tires are flat then it will be more difficult to remove.
You also have to make sure the automobile is intact. It doesn’t do any good to donate a car where a bunch of the good parts have already been sold off. The idea behind donating an automobile is for them to sell off the good, usable part then have the metal recycled. If many of the good parts are gone then whats the point?
The whole point of donating is to help the charity. If you are making an automobile donation then be sure you are not costing the charity more in processing.
This is always being asked. People often only donate a car that that likely would not sell that easily. So it makes sense that a large number of donations are automobiles that don’t run. This is a great way to help out but you have to be sure your donation is going to help and not cost the charity more to process then they will get out of it.
Many charities work with a wrecker. This is the company that will come out and tow your old automobile for donation. They also process the automobile and sell off the part if the vehicle isn’t able to be fixed and can send it out to be repaired if there is only a couple things wrong with it. You really need to just talk with the charity you plan to make an automobile donation too and see what system the have set up for donations of this type.
There was a recent story from Winnipeg, Canada where a wrecker was donating the proceeds from every recycled car they processed in a year to Habitat for Humanity. The whole goal was to be able to build a house for a local family. A great goal and an example of how a charity can work with the wrecker to achieve a common goal.
The main thing you have to be sure of is that the charity is able to process this type of donation. Not every charity is set up to handle automobile donations that don’t run. It is a simple process with little cost. With an automobile donation that does not run then there are added processing cost, repairs, towing , etc. This can cost far more then the actual value of the car and this of course defeats the purpose of donating.
Talk with charities and find out if they can handle this type of automobile donation. Then you can be assured that you are going to make the biggest contribution instead of costing money in the end.
There are a few considerations in donating an automobile that doesn’t run. The tires need to be inflated. The automobile will need to be towed or loaded onto a flatbed truck to be taken away and if the tires are flat then it will be more difficult to remove.
You also have to make sure the automobile is intact. It doesn’t do any good to donate a car where a bunch of the good parts have already been sold off. The idea behind donating an automobile is for them to sell off the good, usable part then have the metal recycled. If many of the good parts are gone then whats the point?
The whole point of donating is to help the charity. If you are making an automobile donation then be sure you are not costing the charity more in processing.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Tow Truck Shooter Arrested, Cops Block Wreckers From Accident Info
Tow Truck Shooter Arrested, Cops Block Wreckers From Accident Info
Are Philly’s tow truck wars already over?
An alleged gun-man in this week’s towing blow-up has been arrested, and the police have changed the rules to prevent future problems, no longer broadcasting accident information over radios that wreckers can listen in on.
Jose LaTorre, Jr., wanted for Monday’s shooting of Mystical Towing driver Angel Carrera, turned himself into police last night. The shooting allegedly was the result of a dispute between LaTorre and Carrera over a potential customer after an accident on Hunting Park Avenue.
Action News spoke with the owner of Mystical:
“LaTorre told him he couldn’t talk to his customer,” Mystical owner John Campbell said of the employee who was shot. “He told (LaTorre), `Well, I don’t see no tow truck there.”‘
LaTorre had been on the run ever since. The suspect’s father, Jose LaTorre Sr.,the owner of J & Sons Towing, did not return several messages left at the family business.
. . .
Campbell, 35, said he has talked by phone to LaTorre Jr. and encouraged him to surrender so they can put the feud behind them. “None of this is good for business,” he said.
After the shooting a bunch of cars at J & Sons got torched, and someone fired a gun at Mystical’s office building.
In response to the violence, police say they will now transmit minor accident information over laptops instead of their radios so the wreckers won’t get the drop on them. It’s not a perfect solution, says the Inky:
Police radio is generally more effective because officers who hear the calls and are near an accident sometimes arrive sooner than officers who receive a specific call for help.
“It’s a trade-off, and we are going to have to weigh certain factors,” [Deputy Commissioner Jack] Gaittens said. “We are not looking to replace police-radio transmissions and tie up the [computers].”
The Daily News adds that dispatchers will start calling for a tow truck before the police even arrive at the accident to help fend off future brew-ha-has.
Before, the radio room would wait until a cop got to the scene and radio back in for a tow. Now, the dispatcher asks the caller if the vehicles are blocking a highway or sidewalk, if there is a safety concern and if a tow is needed. Then the dispatcher contacts the next tow company in the rotation and dispatches police officers, Gaittens said.
Councilman Jim Kenney has called for legislation to mandate that the dispatchers call the towing companies in advance, and also fines for wreckers who show up uninvited. It all sounds good, but Philadelphia has implemented tough towing laws before. Councilman Frank Rizzo got a “rotational towing” system passed two years ago in which police call tow trucks from a list to spread out the business, but the rule has been largely ignored, mostly because the tow trucks got to accidents before the police could.
Because the new rules block access to accident info, they are more likely to stick. But come on, aren’t tow truck wars more exciting than parking wars?
Are Philly’s tow truck wars already over?
An alleged gun-man in this week’s towing blow-up has been arrested, and the police have changed the rules to prevent future problems, no longer broadcasting accident information over radios that wreckers can listen in on.
Jose LaTorre, Jr., wanted for Monday’s shooting of Mystical Towing driver Angel Carrera, turned himself into police last night. The shooting allegedly was the result of a dispute between LaTorre and Carrera over a potential customer after an accident on Hunting Park Avenue.
Action News spoke with the owner of Mystical:
“LaTorre told him he couldn’t talk to his customer,” Mystical owner John Campbell said of the employee who was shot. “He told (LaTorre), `Well, I don’t see no tow truck there.”‘
LaTorre had been on the run ever since. The suspect’s father, Jose LaTorre Sr.,the owner of J & Sons Towing, did not return several messages left at the family business.
. . .
Campbell, 35, said he has talked by phone to LaTorre Jr. and encouraged him to surrender so they can put the feud behind them. “None of this is good for business,” he said.
After the shooting a bunch of cars at J & Sons got torched, and someone fired a gun at Mystical’s office building.
In response to the violence, police say they will now transmit minor accident information over laptops instead of their radios so the wreckers won’t get the drop on them. It’s not a perfect solution, says the Inky:
Police radio is generally more effective because officers who hear the calls and are near an accident sometimes arrive sooner than officers who receive a specific call for help.
“It’s a trade-off, and we are going to have to weigh certain factors,” [Deputy Commissioner Jack] Gaittens said. “We are not looking to replace police-radio transmissions and tie up the [computers].”
The Daily News adds that dispatchers will start calling for a tow truck before the police even arrive at the accident to help fend off future brew-ha-has.
Before, the radio room would wait until a cop got to the scene and radio back in for a tow. Now, the dispatcher asks the caller if the vehicles are blocking a highway or sidewalk, if there is a safety concern and if a tow is needed. Then the dispatcher contacts the next tow company in the rotation and dispatches police officers, Gaittens said.
Councilman Jim Kenney has called for legislation to mandate that the dispatchers call the towing companies in advance, and also fines for wreckers who show up uninvited. It all sounds good, but Philadelphia has implemented tough towing laws before. Councilman Frank Rizzo got a “rotational towing” system passed two years ago in which police call tow trucks from a list to spread out the business, but the rule has been largely ignored, mostly because the tow trucks got to accidents before the police could.
Because the new rules block access to accident info, they are more likely to stick. But come on, aren’t tow truck wars more exciting than parking wars?
Friday, July 23, 2010
A recent shooting in Philly has led to some new rules... Here's the story from The Philadelphia Inquirer:
Friday, July 23, 2010New Rules For Towing In Philly
A recent shooting in Philly has led to some new rules... Here's the story from The Philadelphia Inquirer:
News of traffic accidents in Philadelphia is no longer being dispatched over the airwaves. City officials hope the new policy will lead tow-truck drivers to ditch their police scanners and stop harassing motorists. Instead, police are being alerted to accidents through written electronic messages delivered directly to laptop computers in their cars.
Additionally, radio dispatchers have been instructed to call for a tow truck, if warranted at an accident scene, when they inform police of the accident. Until now, tow trucks were not requested until officers were on site.
Both practices took effect Thursday, a consequence of the historically aggressive activity of tow-truck companies that this week resulted in gunfire, sending one driver to the hospital, as well as the torching of 13 cars in one company's care.
"I don't think there is a thing [the tow-truck companies] can do about" the new policies, Deputy Police Commissioner Jack Gaittens said.
Exceptions will be made for collisions with serious injuries, he said.
Police radio is generally more effective because officers who hear the calls and are near an accident sometimes arrive sooner than officers who receive a specific call for help.
"It's a trade-off, and we are going to have to weigh certain factors," Gaittens said. "We are not looking to replace police-radio transmissions and tie up the [computers]."
This week's criminal activities marked a low in the decades-long struggle to better regulate the tow-truck operators, some of whom descend on accident victims and persuade shaken-up drivers to agree to services that often result in exorbitant bills.
One of those allegedly involved in this week's violence surrendered to police Thursday evening. Jose LaTorre Jr. turned himself in around 6:30 at 25th District headquarters in North Philadelphia, Lt. Frank Vanore, a police spokesman, said. LaTorre faces charges of aggravated assault and related offenses.
LaTorre, a son of the owner of J & Sons Auto Body, arrived at the scene of a North Philadelphia accident on Monday to claim the tow job, though he was driving his Cadillac Escalade. When a driver for Mystical Towing showed up in a tow truck, a dispute erupted over which company would get the job. LaTorre allegedly then shot the Mystical driver in the left thigh and fled.
At least two City Council members are seeking to impose stronger rules for notifying tow companies, including Frank Rizzo, whose 2008 legislation resulted in the creation of a vetted list of tow-truck operators called by police on a rotating basis.
Told of the new policy minimizing transmissions on the airwaves, Rizzo - who suggested that change to Gaittens early Thursday - said: "That absolutely solves 99 percent of the problems. This pulls the plug on their ability to get information."
Nonetheless, some tow-truck operators are not convinced the new policies will change much - or that much change is needed.
"It's always worked smooth for me. I don't have any problems with the wreck chasers," said Giovanni Salvatore, a dispatcher at Towing By the Hook. "A lot of times, there is no other tower there but me."
On the other hand, Jeff Hartka of Jeff's Towing Service, said the rotation program was a failure to begin with. In the two years it has been in effect, he said, "Nobody has ever called me. Not once."
Councilman Jim Kenney is calling for additional changes.
His legislation, which he said he plans to introduce when Council reconvenes in September, would require dispatchers to contact tow-truck drivers when they call for officers - and would institute a fine for other tow trucks showing up on the scene.
Given the current controversy, Kenney said, he would like the current rotation list suspended, and instead have police use the same tow-truck operators they use to retrieve stolen cars.
"They've been vetted, they are insured, and their drivers have background checks," he said.
Motorists who break down or have accidents should call AAA if they have it, or for roadside assistance through their car dealer, Jana Tidwell, a AAA Mid-Atlantic spokeswoman, said.
Another option is for drivers to call their auto insurance companies, which usually can recommend local tow-truck companies, she said.
"We've known for many years that this is a serious problem in Philadelphia," she said. "Unfortunately, the rotational tow system is not being utilized as intended."
A recent shooting in Philly has led to some new rules... Here's the story from The Philadelphia Inquirer:
News of traffic accidents in Philadelphia is no longer being dispatched over the airwaves. City officials hope the new policy will lead tow-truck drivers to ditch their police scanners and stop harassing motorists. Instead, police are being alerted to accidents through written electronic messages delivered directly to laptop computers in their cars.
Additionally, radio dispatchers have been instructed to call for a tow truck, if warranted at an accident scene, when they inform police of the accident. Until now, tow trucks were not requested until officers were on site.
Both practices took effect Thursday, a consequence of the historically aggressive activity of tow-truck companies that this week resulted in gunfire, sending one driver to the hospital, as well as the torching of 13 cars in one company's care.
"I don't think there is a thing [the tow-truck companies] can do about" the new policies, Deputy Police Commissioner Jack Gaittens said.
Exceptions will be made for collisions with serious injuries, he said.
Police radio is generally more effective because officers who hear the calls and are near an accident sometimes arrive sooner than officers who receive a specific call for help.
"It's a trade-off, and we are going to have to weigh certain factors," Gaittens said. "We are not looking to replace police-radio transmissions and tie up the [computers]."
This week's criminal activities marked a low in the decades-long struggle to better regulate the tow-truck operators, some of whom descend on accident victims and persuade shaken-up drivers to agree to services that often result in exorbitant bills.
One of those allegedly involved in this week's violence surrendered to police Thursday evening. Jose LaTorre Jr. turned himself in around 6:30 at 25th District headquarters in North Philadelphia, Lt. Frank Vanore, a police spokesman, said. LaTorre faces charges of aggravated assault and related offenses.
LaTorre, a son of the owner of J & Sons Auto Body, arrived at the scene of a North Philadelphia accident on Monday to claim the tow job, though he was driving his Cadillac Escalade. When a driver for Mystical Towing showed up in a tow truck, a dispute erupted over which company would get the job. LaTorre allegedly then shot the Mystical driver in the left thigh and fled.
At least two City Council members are seeking to impose stronger rules for notifying tow companies, including Frank Rizzo, whose 2008 legislation resulted in the creation of a vetted list of tow-truck operators called by police on a rotating basis.
Told of the new policy minimizing transmissions on the airwaves, Rizzo - who suggested that change to Gaittens early Thursday - said: "That absolutely solves 99 percent of the problems. This pulls the plug on their ability to get information."
Nonetheless, some tow-truck operators are not convinced the new policies will change much - or that much change is needed.
"It's always worked smooth for me. I don't have any problems with the wreck chasers," said Giovanni Salvatore, a dispatcher at Towing By the Hook. "A lot of times, there is no other tower there but me."
On the other hand, Jeff Hartka of Jeff's Towing Service, said the rotation program was a failure to begin with. In the two years it has been in effect, he said, "Nobody has ever called me. Not once."
Councilman Jim Kenney is calling for additional changes.
His legislation, which he said he plans to introduce when Council reconvenes in September, would require dispatchers to contact tow-truck drivers when they call for officers - and would institute a fine for other tow trucks showing up on the scene.
Given the current controversy, Kenney said, he would like the current rotation list suspended, and instead have police use the same tow-truck operators they use to retrieve stolen cars.
"They've been vetted, they are insured, and their drivers have background checks," he said.
Motorists who break down or have accidents should call AAA if they have it, or for roadside assistance through their car dealer, Jana Tidwell, a AAA Mid-Atlantic spokeswoman, said.
Another option is for drivers to call their auto insurance companies, which usually can recommend local tow-truck companies, she said.
"We've known for many years that this is a serious problem in Philadelphia," she said. "Unfortunately, the rotational tow system is not being utilized as intended."
Tow War In Philly?
PHILADELPHIA – July 21, 2010 (WPVI) — Philadelphia police are investigating a pair of incidents overnight that might be the start of a war between rival towing companies.
About 12 or 13 cars were set on fire just before 1:00 a.m. in the rear lot of J & Sons Auto Collision located on the 3100 block of N 2nd St in the Hunting Park section of Philadelphia. There were no injuries reported.
“If the Philadelphia Fire Department didn’t respond as quick as it did I would have lost everything,” said Jose LaTorre, Sr., owner of J & Sons.
The Philadelphia Fire Department has declared this a suspicious fire.
Meanwhile, Philadelphia Police report that someone fired about 6 bullets into the Mystical Towing office building around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday on the 100 block of West Ashdale Street in the Olney section of Philadelphia.
The owner and his wife were in the building, but nobody was hurt.
“I heard a couple of different bangs, I didn’t know it was gunshots at first,” said John Campbell, owner of Mystical Towing. “I came outside, then when I came in is when I noticed all the holes in the walls.”
Police are trying to figure out if the fire and shooting are in any way linked to Monday morning’s shooting between two tow truck drivers from J & Sons Towing and Mystical Towing.
The shooting happened at the scene of a minor crash at Whitaker and Hunting Park avenues. Police say Jose LaTorre, Jr., apparently arrived at the scene first, driving a black Cadillac Escalade. He’s also the son of the owner of J & Son’s Towing.
At one point a tow truck from Mystical Towing, driven by Anabel Carrera, also arrived and an argument ensued.
“The guy in the Escalade sees the guy in the tow truck, tells the guy to move his truck because he blocked him in with the tow truck,” said witness Jack Roth.
The shooting happened after that argument, Roth said, and LaTorre took off. He remains at large.
LaTorre, Sr. said he has not doubt the fire at his shop Wednesday morning was an act of retaliation.
PHILADELPHIA – July 21, 2010 (WPVI) — Philadelphia police are investigating a pair of incidents overnight that might be the start of a war between rival towing companies.
About 12 or 13 cars were set on fire just before 1:00 a.m. in the rear lot of J & Sons Auto Collision located on the 3100 block of N 2nd St in the Hunting Park section of Philadelphia. There were no injuries reported.
“If the Philadelphia Fire Department didn’t respond as quick as it did I would have lost everything,” said Jose LaTorre, Sr., owner of J & Sons.
The Philadelphia Fire Department has declared this a suspicious fire.
Meanwhile, Philadelphia Police report that someone fired about 6 bullets into the Mystical Towing office building around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday on the 100 block of West Ashdale Street in the Olney section of Philadelphia.
The owner and his wife were in the building, but nobody was hurt.
“I heard a couple of different bangs, I didn’t know it was gunshots at first,” said John Campbell, owner of Mystical Towing. “I came outside, then when I came in is when I noticed all the holes in the walls.”
Police are trying to figure out if the fire and shooting are in any way linked to Monday morning’s shooting between two tow truck drivers from J & Sons Towing and Mystical Towing.
The shooting happened at the scene of a minor crash at Whitaker and Hunting Park avenues. Police say Jose LaTorre, Jr., apparently arrived at the scene first, driving a black Cadillac Escalade. He’s also the son of the owner of J & Son’s Towing.
At one point a tow truck from Mystical Towing, driven by Anabel Carrera, also arrived and an argument ensued.
“The guy in the Escalade sees the guy in the tow truck, tells the guy to move his truck because he blocked him in with the tow truck,” said witness Jack Roth.
The shooting happened after that argument, Roth said, and LaTorre took off. He remains at large.
LaTorre, Sr. said he has not doubt the fire at his shop Wednesday morning was an act of retaliation.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Truck Towing
Tow trucks, also called wreckers, are used to clear disabled vehicles off highways and speedways. They constitute an emergency service that is of considerable importance in this age of heavy vehicle flow across the world. Without their efficient service, this flow would grind to a halt in less than no time.
Most tow trucks are run by private enterprises and are operated in fleets that specialize in quick road clearance and retrieval services. They are in a perfect position to supply captive customers to repair businesses and are an integral part of their economy. The government road authorities have their own tow truck fleets to service highways and areas like toll stations where bottlenecks are likely to occur if a vehicle breaks down.
There are various kinds of tow trucks in operation today, from the most rudimentary to the highly specialized. The most basic kind is the hook-and-chain truck, and it is still in extensive use in third-world countries. It employs chains that lift the broken-down vehicle by the axle with the help of a boom winch.
From this concept came the axle-cradling tow truck, which sports a single-unit yoke that can lift the front end of the disabled vehicle into the air for easy towing. The lifting mechanism is either hydraulically or pneumatically operated. This is arguably the quickest kind of towing and is often used in traffic control.
Flatbeds are used for long-distance towing. The flatbed accommodates the entire disabled vehicle piggyback. It does this by lowering a flat metal surface to the ground, making it possible for the broken-down vehicle to either drive or be drawn onto the back of the truck by a winch. There are also various combinations of the above-described tow trucks in existence.
Most tow trucks are run by private enterprises and are operated in fleets that specialize in quick road clearance and retrieval services. They are in a perfect position to supply captive customers to repair businesses and are an integral part of their economy. The government road authorities have their own tow truck fleets to service highways and areas like toll stations where bottlenecks are likely to occur if a vehicle breaks down.
There are various kinds of tow trucks in operation today, from the most rudimentary to the highly specialized. The most basic kind is the hook-and-chain truck, and it is still in extensive use in third-world countries. It employs chains that lift the broken-down vehicle by the axle with the help of a boom winch.
From this concept came the axle-cradling tow truck, which sports a single-unit yoke that can lift the front end of the disabled vehicle into the air for easy towing. The lifting mechanism is either hydraulically or pneumatically operated. This is arguably the quickest kind of towing and is often used in traffic control.
Flatbeds are used for long-distance towing. The flatbed accommodates the entire disabled vehicle piggyback. It does this by lowering a flat metal surface to the ground, making it possible for the broken-down vehicle to either drive or be drawn onto the back of the truck by a winch. There are also various combinations of the above-described tow trucks in existence.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
City tow truck plan on track despite protest
I guess they figured out who was responding," he said.
S&E Towing is one of a number of firms protesting a proposed city wrecker service pay plan they say is unfair. The city's last wrecker rotation agreement expired in 2002, and companies have been self-regulating since.
The new proposal, which is set for a vote by the City Council next week, caps wrecker service fees on most jobs at $75 and storage fees at $25 a day after the first day. The fees would apply to calls placed by the city to tow stolen and abandoned vehicles, parking violators, cars of people arrested by JPD, and vehicles involved in traffic accidents where the owner does not express a preference of company.
In the absence of a contract, most wrecker companies have been charging about $125 for tows. Street said he is in favor of greater regulation by the city, but his company cannot afford the cut mandated by this contract.
"We've had to govern ourselves," he said. "Some of us do a good job at that and some of us don't, but trying to feed us a contract that is $50 less than we have been doing for the last four years is ridiculous."
Council President Frank Bluntson said he is unmoved by the complaints.
"They have a right to do what they want to do," he said of the companies involved in the protest. "That's their business, but we have a right to protect the citizens of Jackson."
Poorer residents cannot afford to pay $125 to be towed from an accident, he said. "We have to look out for our constituents," Bluntson said.
Street said the city wants to cut wrecker company fees but has not cut its own storage fees and fines for towed vehicles.
City spokesman Chris Mims said the protest has not interfered with service.
"There were a couple of companies who did not answer the phone or refused to tow (Monday) night," he said Tuesday. "But we moved to the next available tow company on the list as we customarily have done."
The contract passed the council's planning committee Monday on a 3-0 vote. The full council will cast a final vote at its meeting July 27.
"We voted on the agreement that the Police Department said was in the best interest of the citizens of Jackson," Bluntson said.
S&E Towing is one of a number of firms protesting a proposed city wrecker service pay plan they say is unfair. The city's last wrecker rotation agreement expired in 2002, and companies have been self-regulating since.
The new proposal, which is set for a vote by the City Council next week, caps wrecker service fees on most jobs at $75 and storage fees at $25 a day after the first day. The fees would apply to calls placed by the city to tow stolen and abandoned vehicles, parking violators, cars of people arrested by JPD, and vehicles involved in traffic accidents where the owner does not express a preference of company.
In the absence of a contract, most wrecker companies have been charging about $125 for tows. Street said he is in favor of greater regulation by the city, but his company cannot afford the cut mandated by this contract.
"We've had to govern ourselves," he said. "Some of us do a good job at that and some of us don't, but trying to feed us a contract that is $50 less than we have been doing for the last four years is ridiculous."
Council President Frank Bluntson said he is unmoved by the complaints.
"They have a right to do what they want to do," he said of the companies involved in the protest. "That's their business, but we have a right to protect the citizens of Jackson."
Poorer residents cannot afford to pay $125 to be towed from an accident, he said. "We have to look out for our constituents," Bluntson said.
Street said the city wants to cut wrecker company fees but has not cut its own storage fees and fines for towed vehicles.
City spokesman Chris Mims said the protest has not interfered with service.
"There were a couple of companies who did not answer the phone or refused to tow (Monday) night," he said Tuesday. "But we moved to the next available tow company on the list as we customarily have done."
The contract passed the council's planning committee Monday on a 3-0 vote. The full council will cast a final vote at its meeting July 27.
"We voted on the agreement that the Police Department said was in the best interest of the citizens of Jackson," Bluntson said.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Jackson Wreckers Go on Strike
Workers with more than a dozen wrecker companies contracted by the City of Jackson are on strike.
This could mean longer waits if you call for a tow truck, and it could mean traffic slow-downs for drivers trying to get around a broken-down vehicle.
“I want the public to know that yes we will pull for our regular customer,“ said Trey Ward, owner of Ward Wrecker Service. “If you call us directly we will come and get you. We’re not going to deny you service.“
Some 15 companies are involved. Workers want higher fees for the services they provide the city. These companies are on JPD’s rotation list and are called to tow vehicles that are abandoned or involved in crashes or crime scenes.
Monday members of the Jackson City Council Planning Committee approved a $10 increase in wrecker fees. It’s been $65. It would bring that up to $75 for vehicles towed to city impound lots.
The fee is $125 for vehicles taken to private lots.
The wrecker companies want $125 for all tows, which is already the going rate in cities in Rankin, Madison and Warren Counties.
Councilman Kenneth Stokes says if the wrecker services have their way, Jackson residents would also have to pay higher towing fees which he says would create a financial hardship.
“There’s no way in the city of Jackson we can allow the wrecker service to charge 100-150 dollars, plus storage,“ Stokes said. “We just can’t do it. You’re robbing Peter to pay Paul. Robbing the poor people in this city.“
The full council is set to vote on the proposed service fees next Tuesday, but the wrecker companies are not backing down until they reach a price agreement.
This could mean longer waits if you call for a tow truck, and it could mean traffic slow-downs for drivers trying to get around a broken-down vehicle.
“I want the public to know that yes we will pull for our regular customer,“ said Trey Ward, owner of Ward Wrecker Service. “If you call us directly we will come and get you. We’re not going to deny you service.“
Some 15 companies are involved. Workers want higher fees for the services they provide the city. These companies are on JPD’s rotation list and are called to tow vehicles that are abandoned or involved in crashes or crime scenes.
Monday members of the Jackson City Council Planning Committee approved a $10 increase in wrecker fees. It’s been $65. It would bring that up to $75 for vehicles towed to city impound lots.
The fee is $125 for vehicles taken to private lots.
The wrecker companies want $125 for all tows, which is already the going rate in cities in Rankin, Madison and Warren Counties.
Councilman Kenneth Stokes says if the wrecker services have their way, Jackson residents would also have to pay higher towing fees which he says would create a financial hardship.
“There’s no way in the city of Jackson we can allow the wrecker service to charge 100-150 dollars, plus storage,“ Stokes said. “We just can’t do it. You’re robbing Peter to pay Paul. Robbing the poor people in this city.“
The full council is set to vote on the proposed service fees next Tuesday, but the wrecker companies are not backing down until they reach a price agreement.
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