Dangers Faced By Tow Truck Drivers On Minnesota Roads

Friday night we decided last minute that we wanted to go out to grab a bite to eat. While it was snowing pretty hard at times, we took our time and made our way out to dinner. On the way back the roads had gotten pretty slick, so traffic was moving slower than normal. The number of cars in the ditch was crazy, but even crazier was the number of vehicles NOT moving over for tow truck drivers working on the side and middle of the road.

It's Minnesota law to move over for stopped emergency vehicles on the side of Minnesota roads. That includes tow truck drivers, who are putting their lives on the line to get you and I out of the ditch in poor driving conditions.

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Recently a tow truck driver from St. Cloud was hit by a drunk driver while recovering a vehicle, according to a GoFundMe for the driver:

On January 13th, while at work, Charon was called to tow a vehicle out of the ditch. When suddenly a speeding car lost control and hit the tow truck, crushing Charon between the vehicles. Behind the wheel of this speeding vehicle, at 10am on a Monday morning was a drunk driver.

Due to this drunk driver's selfish actions, Charon's life will forever be changed. His injuries are very serious, and almost cost Charon his life due to blood loss.

On Thursday an update to the GoFundMe indicated that Charon had lost his right leg.

On Monday he did have his right leg amputated. Charon fought very hard to keep his right leg, but unfortunately the damage was too significant and there was nothing more that could be done.

With the recent amputation and "hopefully " last surgery Charon should be heading towards a rehab unit soon to start working on his recovery and finding his new normal.

Charon's accident all goes back to the current law on the books here in Minnesota, remember if you see flashing lights coming up on your left or right, move over, it's the law.

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