DECATUR -- You are driving down U.S. 412 in the right-hand lane, going 65 miles per hours with a clear road ahead. You look down to change the radio station when suddenly you are upon an accident scene with three police cars, two fire trucks, an ambulance and two tow trucks. You have now turned a minor non-injury accident scene into a major fatality disaster were two police officers, two tow drivers, and a young child lose their lives.
This scenario happens more times each year than one can imagine, which prompted American Towman magazine and B/A Products Co. (manufacturer of towing equipment), a group of tow operators and other law and emergency personnel to organize the "Spirit Ride -- Slow Down, Move Over America" tour.
The Spirit Ride tour was founded to raise awareness of the risks many first responders and tow operators face each day as they try to help victims of accidents and persons in distress along America's intricate highway systems.
"One of the biggest dangers that emergency personnel face is being struck by another driver while tending to the victims of a crash. This can happen when a driver who is speeding unexpectedly comes upon the scene of a crash and can't stop in time, or by "rubberneckers" who are so focused on looking at the crash that they don't watch the road ahead. National Traffic Incident Management Coalition studies show that, on average, at least two emergency responders are struck each day in the United States. Between 1995 and 2006, an average of one law enforcement officer was struck and killed each month by a passing vehicle. In the first three months of 2006, five tow-truck operators were killed while working at the scene of a collision." -- atspiritride.com.
This prompted many states to enact the "Move Over" law which requires drivers to move over and slow down when an emergency vehicle and personnel (including tow-truck drivers) are assisting stranded motorists or working an accident scene. Failure to comply means a $500 fine, 60 days in jail, and a 90-day suspension of a driver's license.
On June 1, 2017, the "Spirit" Casket began its tour of 140 municipalities to pay tribute to all the first responders who lost their lives in the line of duty and to raise awareness of the "Move Over" law. "Spirit," as the casket is known, is passed from tow carrier to tow carrier across the country as it makes it way up the interstates and major highways across the U.S.
During the 2018 journey, 160 cities and towns will participate in this event. "Spirit" will be at the city park in Tontitown June 8 at 10 a.m. for its ride to Kansas City along Interstate 49.
Decatur Salvage will send one of its big tow trucks to participate in the parade from Tonitown. It is one of several companies that handle heavy lifting and recovery in the Decatur, Gentry and Gravette area.
For more information on the Spirit Ride tour, visit www.atspiritride.com.
General News on 06/06/2018