Oregon Towers Honor Fallen Tow Operator

On December 12, nearly 65 tow trucks from across the state of Oregon and beyond came out in procession to honor Henry Alan Lichtwald, who lost his life while clearing a disabled vehicle on Interstate 5 in November. 

Lichtwald, 63, of Roseburg, Oregon, was responding to a crash when police say a commercial motor vehicle collided with him and his tow truck. Lichtwald, who worked at Walt’s Towing, died at the scene. 

The event was to show solidarity and once again call for stronger measures to protect drivers, in addition to Oregon’s “Move Over” law. After a brief time to meet and sign photos of Lichtwald, tow truck operators moved out in a solemn procession that stretched over an estimated 3 miles. Trucks with flashing lights, from companies as far south as Medford and far north as Portland, were in attendance. 

Halfway through the procession, four trucks that had traveled from a tow company in Ridgefield, Washington, joined the procession in progress. 

In addition to the procession, highlights of the event included a presentation of a Tow Lives Matter flag to the operations manager of Walt’s Towing and a smaller group of drivers gathering at the site of Lichtwald’s death for a brief memorial. 

https://www.nrtoday.com/