Our condolences to the family and acquaintances of 67-year-old Julian Baugh who died on Oct. 29 from injuries sustained when his driverless truck ran over him. Here’s the story from The Gwinnett Daily Post:

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Our condolences to the family and acquaintances of 38-year-old George Soriano who died yesterday in a tragic accident. Here’s the story from the Houston Chronicle:

Federal officials are investigating the death of a tow truck driver at a FedEx distribution center in south Houston.

The wrecker driver, 38, was killed shortly after 2 p.m. at the building in the 2700 block of Holly Hall, Houston police said.

The driver, identified by a family member at the scene as George Soriano, was towing a disabled FedEx delivery truck to the center when he was killed.

“It appears to be a tragic accident,” FedEx spokesman Jim McCluskey said from the company’s Memphis headquarters.

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FedEx officials offered condolences to the family and said they were cooperating with officials.

Soriano had four children by his first wife and three more with his second wife – of which two were his stepchildren, said his father-in-law Gilbert Lopez.

Soriano had been working with his father-in-law at another company with a Houston Safe Clear towing contract but recently joined another company because he was concerned about towing cars on busy highways.

“He called and said, ‘I don’t think I can handle it over there,’” Lopez said.

An investigator with the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration was at the scene. OSHA officials later Tuesday could not be reached for comment.

mike.glenn@chron.com

From Footnotes TowBlog: Towing News Around The Web
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Our condolences to the family and acquaintances of 62-year-old Anthony Poortinga of Wenatchee, WA, who was the owner of Anthony’s Cheap Tow towing service. He died on Saturday, 11/27, in a house fire. Judging from the story comments, he was a great guy who will be missed deeply. Here’s the story from The Wenatchee World (click the link to go to the newspaper online, there is an additional story from 2005 on Anthony):

EAST WENATCHEE — Anthony Poortinga, 62, the well-liked and flamboyant owner of Anthony’s Cheap Tow towing service, died Saturday night, his body found by firefighters inside his East Wenatchee home.
Firefighters responded at 11:33 p.m. Saturday to a house filled with smoke at 167 12th St. N.E. Douglas County Fire District 2 firefighters quickly knocked down a small fire and found Poortinga in a bedroom while searching and ventilating the house, said Douglas County Fire Chief Chuck Fenton. Poortinga lived alone and was the only person in the house at the time of the fire. There were no smoke alarms in the house. Fenton said it appeared Poortinga had awakened and tried to make it to a window before being overcome by smoke. The fire call came from an East Wenatchee Police officer who spotted the smoke.

Fenton said he knew Poortinga personally and found him to be a very friendly person who was always willing to help others.

“He really didn’t have a chance,” Fenton said. “If there’s anything we can take from this, it’s a lesson that smoke detectors are critical. It could have made a difference.” The smoke started in a closet close to Poortinga’s bedroom. It’s likely the fire was caused by an electrical short, but impossible to say for sure, Fenton said.

East Wenatchee Police confirmed the victim was Poortinga Sunday after notifying his relatives. He was an East Wenatchee resident since 1979. An autopsy will be made to determine the cause of death, said Dan Rierson, East Wenatchee Police assistant chief.

Poortinga was well known around the valley as the owner of Anthony’s Cheap Tow. In his wide-brimmed cowboy hat, bandana tied around his neck, pearl-buttoned denim shirt and cowboy boots, he could be seen nearly every day driving one of his tow trucks around the valley or stopped by the side of the road helping a motorist. When he wasn’t on a towing mission, he could be found in one of his trucks reading a paperback mystery book or in a local cafe. His favorite haunts were Jimmy’s Diner on the Eastside and Denny’s and Smitty’s restaurants in Wenatchee. He loved to read.

“When he didn’t come in Sunday, we wondered where he was,” Sherri Schoonover, a waitress at Jimmy’s Diner, said this morning. “He would come here every day and order the breakfast special and read a book. He was very well liked here.” Schoonover said he would often come in with his daughter and grandchildren. “He was like family. He will be missed.”

Poortinga started Anthony’s Cheap Tow in 2004 after retiring from a career as a private contractor installing power and telephone poles throughout the Northwest. Interviewed for a 2005 Wenatchee World article, Poortinga said he started the towing business because his previous career had kept him on the road all the time and made it difficult to make friends.

He started out with a pickup and flatbed trailer that he used to transport race cars, then added the towing service and gradually added several more vehicles, stationed around the valley. The blue trucks with their Anthony’s Cheap Tow signs were his only form of advertising. He said the business didn’t make him a lot of money, but he loved it because it gave him a chance to help people and make a lot of friends.

“I’ve always done things a little different,” he said in the 2005 article. “I’ve always blazed my own trail.”

Rick Steigmeyer: 664-7151

steigmeyer@wenatcheeworld.com

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — A man was killed Wednesday when he was dragged behind by a vehicle he was trying to tow.
Witnesses said the tow truck driver was in the process of towing an illegally parked SUV when the female owner of the vehicle jumped into the SUV and took off. Initial reports had said the woman jumped into the tow truck, but police corrected that to say she was driving the SUV.
Witnesses said the victim’s leg was caught in a cable that snapped as the woman drove off.Witnesses said they ran after the woman to try to get her to stop.
The tow truck driver was dragged for more than a mile before his leg was torn from his torso.
The SUV was found parked in a nearby neighborhood and police were interviewing several persons of interest in the case.
KRDO-TV reported the victim had both of his legs severed as a result of the dragging incident.
His company, J&J Towing, identified the victim Wednesday night as Allen Rose, 35, a married father of two and an Iraq War veteran who served multiple tours. He was a co-owner of the towing company.
The incident started at the Hill Park Apartments in the 300 block of N. Murray Blvd. in Colorado Springs. Rose’s body was found at Babcock Road and Platte Avenue.
Police said the crime scene stretched for 1.2 miles, containing blood and other evidence of the dragging.
Several streets in the area were closed through the evening rush hour while police documented evidence.

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Our condolences to the family and acquaintances of 79-year-old Louis R. “Dic” Rich, who owned Dick’s Garage and Wrecker Service in Adrian, TX, for 46 years. He died on March 18. Here’s his obituary:

ADRIAN -Louis R. “Dick” Rich, 79, died Friday, March 18, 2011.

Graveside service will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in Memorial Park Cemetery in Vega with the Rev. Dee Slocum officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors of Vega.

On Sept. 8, 1931, in Hunter, Mo., John Fleming and Alice Ballinger Rich celebrated the birth of a son, Louis Richard, second to the youngest of nine children. Dick grew to manhood and served three years in the Korean War, where he received the Purple Heart medal. Returning from service, he settled in Adrian, where he owned and operated Dick’s Garage and Wrecker Service for 46 years.

He married his beautiful redhead, Joyce Marie Tucker, and life blessed them with three children. Dick was a member of the Vega Masonic Lodge No. 899. He enjoyed traveling to see his siblings, children and grandchildren, “just seeing the country.” He traveled from this world March 18, 2011.

Celebrating his life is his wife, Joyce; children, Steve and Carla Rich of Plano, Dale and Tammy Rich of Adrian, Todd and Tonda White of Vici, Okla.; grandchildren, Tara and Steve Andrea of Woodward, Okla., Ti White of Las Cruces, N.M., and Tialyn White of Warr Acres, Okla.; great-grandson, Preston Andrea; a sister, Erma Cloyd of Fresno, Calif.; a brother, Alexander Rich of San Diego; numerous nieces, nephews; special friends, Boudro and Hector; and many friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be to First Baptist Church, 701 Walnut St., Adrian, TX 79001.

Sign the online guest book at www.boxwellbrothers.com.

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Christian Gutierrez rarely got a day off from his job at Coby’s Auto and Wrecker Service.

To maximize their time together, his girlfriend, Maria Cahue, and her 2-year-old daughter, Andrea, would ride in the wrecker with him, Cahue said.

“That’s how we spent our time together, up until that same night,” Cahue said Saturday.

Cahue, 19, said she had just returned home from responding to a call with her 24-year-old boyfriend when he was called to another wreck near Refugio.

Gutierrez, 24, was struck and killed by a UPS tractor-trailer while loading a vehicle at that wreck.

The crash that killed Gutierrez remains under investigation by the Department of Public Safety.

The couple’s one year anniversary was Friday.

On Saturday, Cahue was in Laredo with Gutierrez’s family, preparing for his funeral.

Cahue said the family did not want to talk publicly about Gutierrez.

With nine siblings, Gutierrez was a family man, she said.

“Anything for me and my daughter. He always put us first,” Cahue said.

Over the phone, Andrea could be heard calling for her mother.

“She asks for him,” Cahue said. “She thinks he’s working.”

Gutierrez moved to Victoria almost a year ago to be with his girlfriend and her daughter, Cahue said.

That was after his service as a Marine in Iraq.

“He was a three-time combat veteran. He went overseas more than once,” Cahue said. “He liked serving his country.”

Gutierrez received several military honors, including the Marine Corp. Good Conduct Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with one Star, the Iraq Campaign Medal with one Campaign Star, the National Defense Service Medal and the Rifle Expert Badge, according to his obituary.

He also enlisted in the Marine Corp. Reserve.

Cahue said on a rare day off, Gutierrez would still be putting others before himself, most likely taking Andrea out to have fun.

“We love him. There was not one person that he did not touch, that did not like him,” Cahue said. “He was just very loving.”

Related story:  http://www.kristv.com/news/tow-truck-driver-struck-and-killed-on-highway-77/

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Our condolences to the family and acquaintances of Anton Agurs, owner of Sanctified Towing, who was found shot to death on June 7. Here’s the story from www.myfoxdc.com:

OXON HILL, Md. – Alethea Agurs can remember everything from Tuesday night. It wasn’t unusual for Anton Agurs to get a call for a tow late at night. He owned his own tow truck, naming the business, Sanctified Towing. He came up with the name five years ago in bible study and ran the business from their District Heights home.


“I don’t know exactly what the job was. He received a call to do a tow and he left maybe a little before ten [p.m.] to go and do a tow job,” said his wife.

An hour and a half after he left, Anton Agurs was found dead alongside his tow truck. His wife says he had been shot.

“I’m truly going to miss him. He would do anything for anybody. A family man. All he wanted to do was work for his family. Take care of his family,” his wife said.

Prince George’s County Police found Anton’s body around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, just outside Oxon Cove Park and Oxon Hill Farm, a national park by the Potomac River in Oxon Hill. The family says the truck’s lights were still flashing. Police say they got a call about a man unconscious in the road. No one seems to know why he was there or if he ever made it to his tow call.

The park closes at 4:30 p.m. The gates are locked and employees leave. There is nothing else around except for the cars speeding by on the beltway nearby.

“This is truly a senseless act. There’s nothing I know that he did to deserve this,” said Alethea.

She says Anton was always careful about who he towed. He worked with auto repair shops, through contracts, did emergency roadside assistance, referrals and repeat business. Anton avoided repossessing cars or other types of towing that might lead to angry confrontations.

Police are still investigating a motive and are not saying if anything was stolen.

“Was it a set up? It very well could have been. Why? I couldn’t tell you,” his wife said, only guessing what might have happened.

Hardest of all has been explaining the murder to their two children.

“I have a 13-year-old daughter and I have a one-year-old son. So of course he doesn’t understand this. My daughter is heartbroken,” she said.

Anton Agurs’ son is named Anton too. What he understands is daddy is gone. Now his family finds strength in what he would tell them.

“Be strong. Live life. Take care of my children. I got your back. It will be alright,” Alethea Agurs can hear her husband saying.

He was a husband, a father, the life of this family now gone.

Read more: http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/maryland/tow-truck-driver-found-shot-to-death-in-oxon-hill-060811#.TfDQNVvH_cs#ixzz1Omr9p3rF

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Sadly, we have lost another staunch TRAA supporter and great friend of the towing industry and its associations, R.L. Owens.  R.L. was founder of Owens Auto Parts and Garage in Corbin, Kentucky. He was a member of several local and state boards and a dedicated deacon in the Central Baptist Church.

In a tribute by Scott Burrows, he wrote: “Sometime last year, my last visit with RL was somewhat painful, for many reasons.  Both he and my father had begun suffering memory loss problems with their advancing age.  Dad and I stopped by the business and were quickly directed to visit RL and Hettie at their house…we were met with open arms and broad smiles from them both.  As we visited together, I realized how fortunate I was to be in the presence of two men who had accomplished recoveries with only rudimentary equipment, had rescued motorists and truckers with only limited mechanical wreckers, and had enjoyed the success that only a “hard-day’s night” can provide.  As they shared “war stories” and matched humorous asides with each other, I could only imagine how hard they must have worked with the limited resources that operators had access to in the early years of towing.”
RL’s funeral was held on Tuesday, May 17, 2011, at the Central Baptist Church in Corbin, KY.  In lieu of flowers, donations will be accepted at Central Baptist Church and Kentucky Tech Corbin Area Center, 1909 S. Snyder St. , Corbin, KY 40701

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It is with sadness that the Burrows Family announces the passing of Paul Andrew Burrows. Paul represented the third generation to lead Burrows Garage and Wrecker Service of Sligo, KY. His life has been filled with an abundance of successes that are evident in the legacy that remains today. His passion for helping others thrives within those that follow in his footsteps. Paul was born February 24, 1924 to Lottie and Jesse “Snooks” Burrows of Sligo, KY. He served in World War II and received a Purple Heart. His accomplishments throughout a lifetime of service to the trucking and towing industry are evident in the countless relationships Paul created while serving his fellow man with great skill and hard work. TRAK awarded Paul the “Million Mile Tower” award. He was the oldest living TRAA Level 3 Certified Operator. He was a lifelong member of the Sligo Baptist Church. The sadness that we feel fades in the brilliance of the memories we share of a man of great honor, strength and faith. In memory of a great man

The arrangements for visitation and his funeral are as follows:
Visitation will be at Ransdell Funeral Home in Bedford, KY 40006 on Wednesday 8/17 from 5pm – 8pm, Thursday 8/18 from 2pm – 8pm, Friday 8/19 from 11am – 1pm. The funeral service will be at Sligo Baptist Church on Friday at 2pm. He will be laid to rest at the Sligo Cemetery following the funeral service. A procession including delegations from the Towing community is being arranged to escort Paul from the funeral home in Bedford to the church in Sligo. 

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