A vehicle slammed into the back of a tow truck on Highway 216 on Wednesday, nearly striking the driver working at the roadside. (CAA MANITOBA / HANDOUT)
A Steinbach tow truck driver wasn’t hurt when a motorist slammed into the back of his truck while he was pulled over on the side of the road attending a call.
Marty Rempel, a CAA Manitoba contractor with Steinbach Towing, was pulling a vehicle out of the ditch on Highway 216 Wednesday night when the accident happened a foot away. The vehicle was estimated to have been going 90 km/h and sprayed him with antifreeze and vehicle debris.
“Our tow truck drivers, like other emergency workers, should not have to put their lives at risk when working. We’ve had close calls before, but this was too close,” said Mike Mager, president of CAA Manitoba.
“The slow down, move over legislation is crucial to keeping them safe while they work to help members, but drivers must do their part and obey the law.”
By law, drivers are required to slow down to 40 km/h when the posted speed limit is less than 79 km/h, and down to 60 km/h when the posted speed limit is 80 km/h or higher while moving to the farther land from the emergency vehicle, if possible.
The tow truck driver had the vehicle’s beacons and strobe lights flashing at the time. The driver of the other vehicle wasn’t injured.
“When you see an emergency vehicle on the side of the road, it only takes a few moments to slow down and move over, but those extra steps can make the difference between life and death,” Mager added.
