Tow truck company continues cleanup after snow
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The snow that fell onto Columbia roads Wednesday caused several wrecks in and around the city. Tow truck companies spent the day responding to wrecks and spent Thursday continuing the cleanup.
Kevin Wolfe with Carl's Towing and Recovery said they received around double the normal volume of calls Wednesday alone.
He said front-wheel drive vehicles had an especially difficult time getting through the snow.
He said they had to actually stop taking calls because the conditions were too dangerous to tow vehicles in.
"When it gets anything over usually about two and a half, three inches, it's really unsafe for us to have a vehicle hooked onto the rear of the trucks," he said.
He said because they pull vehicles at an angle the back bumper will collect all of the snow on the road which can cause more damage.
On Thursday, crews worked to respond to calls they had to turn down Wednesday.
He said Wednesday's snow was different from others because of its timing.
"The difference was everybody started off to work, and there was nothing going on, and then boom, everything started hitting," he said.
Wolfe said if drivers see a tow truck on the side of the road they should slow down and move over. If they do not, it can have serious consequences, Wolfe said.
He said their drivers are usually at the scene of a crash after the fact, meaning there is often no law enforcement vehicles with their lights on.
"It seems like with our tow trucks for some reason they do not want to get over," Wolfe said.
He said one of their drivers was almost killed because a truck driver did not slow down or move over. A tractor-trailer slammed into his truck.
"He was actually under the truck taking a drive line out. So, fortunately, you know, there was no injuries or anything. But it was just that simple fact of people not paying attention and not getting over," he said.
Wolfe said with the snow expected to move into the area on Friday, he does not expect to see a major increase in calls because the roads have been treated.
