MISSOULA, Mont. -
A simple job for one tow truck driver turned into a trip to the hospital on Monday. The Sparr's Towing employee was hooking up to a dead semi at the Missoula Wye when a truck swerved across the icy bridge and slammed into the rig.

Leaning into the cab on the driver's side, he escaped with only minor injuries, but they were enough to keep him away from work and needing time to recover.

The people at Sparr's say an incident like this isn't common for them, but they suffer from close calls with oncoming traffic on an almost daily basis.
Manager Brian Dunlap says he's had cars and trucks pass so closely while on a job that the subsequent wind knocked off his hat.


Emergency crews know just how dangerous it can be to work near traffic, but tow truck drivers may have it even worse. Across the country it's estimated that five firefighters per year, and one law enforcement officer per month are killed by being hit by vehicles. For tow truck drivers, the average is one death every six days across the nation, from oncoming traffic.

Dunlap says that despite the flashing lights and head to toe reflective gear, many motorists still don't change lanes or slow down. 

"As soon as the officer leaves the scene (of an accident)," he says, "it's like we're not even there; we don't exist."


The Sparr's driver wasn't the only injury over the weekend. A Missoula sheriff's deputy was hit by oncoming traffic at the Wye on Sunday night. That deputy was released from the hospital with minor injuries. 

The Frenchtown Fire Department also had a close call during the weekend. Both agencies put in a request to the public Monday evening to give emergency and towing crews plenty of space on the highways.