Decatur Salvage rides in Spirit Ride convoy

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Several members of the Northwest Arkansas tow operator community, along with law enforcement and emergency personnel, gather in front of the "Spirit" casket June 8 at Tontitown City Park. "Spirit" is part of the Spirit Ride campaign to raise awareness for the Move Over law which requires motorists to slow down and move over when emergency and tow vehicles are present along the highway.
Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Several members of the Northwest Arkansas tow operator community, along with law enforcement and emergency personnel, gather in front of the "Spirit" casket June 8 at Tontitown City Park. "Spirit" is part of the Spirit Ride campaign to raise awareness for the Move Over law which requires motorists to slow down and move over when emergency and tow vehicles are present along the highway.

TONTITOWN -- Under a clear, warm summer sky, police officers, firefighters, emergency personnel and tow truck drivers gathered at Tontitown City Park to remember their fallen comrades who lost their lives helping others in distress.

The "Spirit" casket, part of the American Towman Spirit Ride campaign, was in Tontitown June 8 to raise awareness for Arkansas' Slow Down, Move Over law which requires drivers to slow down and move over into an open lane when coming upon emergency vehicles.

The law is now in effect in all 50 states, and failure to obey it carries a fine from $35 to $500, a mandatory suspension of a driver's license for up to 90 days, and community service, all set by the presiding judge.

Recently, the city of Tontitown successfully prosecuted a violator of the Move Over law. That offender was fined $400, and his license was suspended for 21 days.

First responders from 10 area agencies, including the Washington County Sheriff's Office and the Arkansas State Police, joined tow operators from 35 Northwest Arkansas companies in marking the day of remembrance.

One of those vehicles, sporting a yellow and purple paint scheme familiar to those along the Highway 59 Corridor, was the heavy Decatur Salvage tow truck owned and operated by Tommy and Betty Turner from Decatur. For the Turners, the event held a very special meaning.

A fellow tow truck operator was working a tractor-trailer wreck near the Simmons dog food plant outside of Decatur several years ago when he was struck and killed by a distracted driver. The Spirit Ride was the Turners' chance to remember his death and remind the public of the sacrifices tow operators make while working on the country's vast highway system.

Recent statistics show that about 100 first responders are killed each year. A staggering 60 percent of those killed are tow truck operators.

Spirit took center stage during a very emotional hour-long ceremony in the parking area at Tontitown City Offices. Three songs by ride coordinator Mike Corbin were performed during the event. The ceremony concluded with the passing of the Spirit Ride baton between first responders and tow operators assembled behind Spirit.

Spirit was loaded onto a flat-bed wrecker for the long ride from Tontitown to Kansas City, Mo. Performing the honor of transporting the Spirit casket for its 230-mile journey was Donald Rogers, owner-operator of Rogers Wrecker service based in Tontitown. Rogers was one of the organizers for the Spirit Ride stop in Tontitown.

At 11:30 p.m., the Spirit Ride pulled onto Highway 412 for the short journey to Interstate 49 in Springdale. More than 40 vehicles, from police cars to ambulances and fire trucks, to tow vehicles of all sizes, made up the Spirit Ride convoy. After about 15 minutes, the convoy reached the intersection of 412 and I-49 where it turned north for the long trip to northern Missouri, carrying one simple message.

Next time you drive on our nation's streets and highways and come upon emergency vehicles, slow down, move over and give plenty of room for emergency workers to do their jobs safely. It's not only a common courtesy; it's the law!

General News on 06/13/2018