Tow truck driver hit, killed by semitruck driver suspected of DUI

FIFE, Wash. — A tow truck driver is dead after he was hit by a semitruck between Fife and Milton.

At 6:15 a.m., a tow truck driver was loading Jean Ngatcha’s box truck onto a flatbed truck on northbound Interstate 5, just south of Porter Way, according to the Washington State Patrol.

“He just told me, ‘Hey, stay out of the way, stay in the passenger seat and I’ll do the rest.’ He was probably 20 seconds from being done when this unfortunate thing happened to him,” said Ngatcha.

A FedEx semitruck, driven by a 65-year-old man, hit the tow truck driver when the truck veered onto the right shoulder.

“I saw the tow truck driver flip in the air,” said Ngatcha.

Trooper Robert Reyer said the tow truck driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

“I’m just sorry for the family. That guy was a nice guy, he towed me about a year ago,” said Ngatcha.

Troopers said Ngatcha stayed with the tow truck driver after he was hit, but there was little he could do.

The driver of the semitruck pulled over about a half-mile north from where the victim was hit and was arrested for suspicion of DUI, Reyer said.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s police, fire, ambulances, DOT workers or tow truck operators, we’re all out here to help our communities to serve them. It is a very dangerous job at times,” said Reyer.

Cory Wells works for TLC Towing in Vancouver, Wash. Last year he lobbied Washington’s legislature to create a law allowing tow truck operators to have flashing blue lights so they can be more visible.

Wells said that drivers need to make room for tow trucks, just like they do for other responders.

“My heart goes out to the family and the tow truck company. We are on the highway. We all know it’s kind of a game of Russian roulette being out there,” said Wells.

AAA estimates that 24 tow truck operators are killed on roads each year.

For Ngatcha, watching one man lose his life was heart-wrenching when the solution seems simple.

“Because of this, every time I see a tow truck or State Patrol or that, I’m going to be in the other lane, because it’s not worth it, safety is better than anything,” he said.

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