‘Heart shattering:’ Families of late tow truck drivers spread awareness about Florida’s Move Over law

ORLANDO, Fla. – Family members of tow truck drivers killed in crashes the place drivers failed to maneuver over are serving to spread awareness for the Florida law requiring drivers to maneuver over for stopped autos on the roadside serving to drivers or offering companies.

“Everyone knows to move over. If you see those flashing lights, move over the lane,” Lt. Tara Crescenzi with Florida Highway Patrol stated.

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Austin Gayne, 24, was loading a heavy wrecker with a dump truck on Feb. 1, 2021, when he was struck and killed on State Road 408 by a driver who didn’t transfer over. Gayne’s mom, Brooke Lawrence, stated he left behind two young children.

Lawrence and her household need to spread the message in order that this doesn’t occur to a different household.

“There were seven vehicles in the lane with flashing lights, two community patrols, two road rangers, mechanics vehicles, a dump truck and a heavy wrecker. Seven vehicles and the driver came through and failed to obey the law,” Lawrence stated.

Florida Highway Patrol troopers confirmed by way of a video how usually crashes like these occur throughout a press convention on Monday.

“Do not risk everyone else’s life that’s out there protecting you. Not only is it our road ranger that’s helping your grandma change her tire, or helping a new driver who’s 16, 17 years old who doesn’t know how to change her tire,” Crescenzi stated.

According to FHP, there have been seven deaths in 1,492 crashes the place a driver was cited for not shifting over from January 2015 to October 2022.

This previous November, one other tow truck driver, Paul Paez, was killed whereas towing automobiles from a automotive crash.

“Paul’s life was taken on Nov. 10, 2022, during Hurricane Nicole. The pain that our family has felt is heart shattering,” stated Marisa Cruz, Paul Paez’s spouse.

Troopers defined these crashes are preventable and in the event you can’t transfer in time, it’s essential to decelerate to twenty miles per hour beneath the posted pace restrict.

FHP stated the Lake Eola fountain and Amway Center in Orlando are set to show yellow lights in honor of Gayne and all the opposite fallen tow truck operators on Feb. 26.

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