‘There’s danger wherever you look:’ Families of fallen wreckers urge drivers to move over and slow down

Sunday, tow truck drivers and first responders gathered for the 7th annual “Slow down, move over awareness rally” in Hueytown.This event honors John Hubbard, a 25-year-old tow truck driver who was hit and killed in Tuscaloosa in 2016 while working on the interstate.Just last month, Matt Spencer, a second-generation tow truck driver from Michigan, lost his own 25-year-old son.He attended Sunday’s rally to bring awareness to move over laws.”My son was the 34th driver that was struck and killed on the side of the road four weeks ago, yesterday,” Spencer said.His son, Keagan leaves behind a fiancée, a 16-month-old daughter and a 4-year-old stepson-to-be.”There are way too many roadside workers that are getting struck and killed,” Spencer said. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, on average, two emergency workers, including tow truck drivers, are hit and killed each month.This is despite all 50 states having move-over laws.In Alabama, it’s mandatory you change lanes or slow down while passing stopped first responders, wreckers or other utility vehicles.Back in October, Christian Ingram said he lost his uncle Frank.The tow truck driver hit and killed while doing his job.Ingram urged drivers to pay attention, saying a split-second decision can cost someone’s life.”It’s not like a normal job where, you know, you’re sitting behind a desk and there’s no immediate danger,” Ingram said. “When you’re out there on the road, there’s danger wherever you look.”