No Car Worth Dying For: Tow Yard Safety Lessons from a Deadly Incident

By Randall C. Resch

Headline News, June 2025

The Peoria (IL) County State’s Attorney’s Office has charged a sixteen-year-old and an eighteen-year-old with first-degree murder after they intentionally ran over two tow company employees—one of them a 70-year-old man who later died from his injuries.

In this brazen afternoon incident, the unauthorized teens entered the tow yard, jumped into a stored vehicle, and accelerated toward the gate. When employees attempted to stop them, they were struck as the vehicle crashed through the yard's gate.

While gate crashers have long been a concern, let this tragic event serve as a stark safety reminder for tow yard employees seeking to avoid dangerous situations.

Best Practices to Remember

Typical tow business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. At the end of the day, business offices are considered closed. However, after-hours release fees may be collected from registered owners or their representatives—provided all documentation and police holds are in proper order.

Employees are reminded to always use appropriate security measures to protect themselves from attack or robbery. Unauthorized persons should never be allowed inside office or yard spaces unless an after-hours release is actively in progress. Aside from ADA accommodations, all individuals must remain outside the locked facility gates during vehicle release procedures.

Inside employees must ensure that all security doors are closed and locked. Tow operators may be summoned to complete after-hours releases. This process is essential to prevent the unauthorized removal of stored vehicles, theft, or unprovoked attacks on staff.

When bringing vehicles into storage, operators must first drive tow trucks (and vehicles) into the yard and ensure the exterior gate is fully closed and locked before offloading.

It is company policy to prohibit vehicle owners or their associates from entering the yard or office spaces. After-hours releases must be conducted one at a time, with individuals remaining outside the storage area until all paperwork is finalized and payments are collected and deposited according to drop procedures.

Once a vehicle is released, a tow employee should drive it to the facility’s street entrance to prevent any attempt at unauthorized retrieval from within the yard.

Avoid any altercations. If a situation becomes hostile or unsafe, call 911 immediately. Your safety comes first—do not put yourself in harm’s way.

Who’s ta’ Blame?

One vehicle, impounded by the Highway Patrol, had an “agency hold” placed on it for a host of reasons. During the night shift, a tow operator was delivering a different car to the yard. While inside the office completing paperwork, he carelessly left the gate open.

And wouldn’t you know it—someone took advantage. A stealthy driver spotted the open gate and seized the opportunity to liberate his car.

The tow operator heard an engine revving “varoom v’room,” followed by screeching tires. He got to the open gate just in-time to see the vehicle hit-the-street and disappear into the darkness.

As tow company employee, you know that when a vehicle is taken without authorization, you’re responsible for its departure if the gate’s left open? You know that heads are gonna’ roll for the very reason the vehicle’s owner took the car. And if the car was initially impounded for law enforcement actions, the agency will be upset that the yard’s security was far from acceptable?

When the tow operator called 911 to report the car “stolen,” the police dispatcher wasn’t concerned that the gate was carelessly left open. It took a while before a unit arrived to take a stolen vehicle report.

Initiate Specific Guidelines

Not knowing all the details, it’s unclear at what point the suspect driver gained access—during the process of release, or because the gate was unintentionally left open. Whatever the reason, companies should have solid, written employee guidelines regarding “what-to-do” scenarios, so as to prevent employees from being injured or killed.

My company’s written policy regarding facility security and safety is specific. Policy states: “By contract, we are a secured facility. Unauthorized persons are prohibited from entering the facility at any time. Only approved customers may enter to conduct vehicle releases or obtain personal property while being escorted into the yard and back out.”

Additionally, “When tow operators arrive to deliver towed vehicles, the main gate will be closed and locked immediately to prevent potential robbery, unauthorized removal of impounded vehicles, or physical harm to the operator.”

Stand-alone policy: “Never stand in front of an escaping vehicle in an attempt to stop it!”

Securing Keys

Best practices suggest not leaving keys in stored vehicles. Note: When vehicle owners or caretakers are liberating vehicles, they may already have spare keys. For individuals lurking in the darkness—intending to crash tow yard gates or cut fences with bolt cutters—there’s often little that can be done to stop their actions.

Companies should have clear, written policies that state: if someone is taking a vehicle from within the yard—let ’em go! In many states, “it’s not theft” to steal your own vehicle. Criminal trespass may be the minor issue, but felony assault, hit-and-run, or attempted murder are the major crimes likely to be committed in the process. Why risk getting killed over someone reclaiming their car?

If towers leave the gate open, the company will have some ‘splainin’ to do—especially if the vehicle was on an agency hold.

Facilities with questionable care, custody, and control procedures may face disciplinary action, including suspension or removal from contract. Owners, in the best interest of employee safety, must ensure that staff know: don’t try to be a hero when these unfortunate and dangerous situations unfold.

Operations Editor Randall C. Resch is a retired, veteran, California police officer, former tow business owner and industry advocate. As consultant and trainer, he authored and teaches tow truck operator safety courses approved by the California Highway Patrol. For 55-years, he has been involved in the towing and recovery industry. In 29-years, he has contributed more than 775-safety focused articles for American Towman Magazine, TowIndustryWeek.com and is a frequent seminar presenter and beauty pageant judge at tow shows. In 2014, he was inducted to the International Towing and Recovery Industry Hall of Fame, was the 3rd recipient of the industry's "Dave Jones Leadership Award," and is a member of American Towman’s Safety Committee.

Email Randy at rreschran@gmail.com.