Towman Dies After Three-Vehicle Crash

A tow truck driver from Mississippi was involved in a deadly three-vehicle crash on Saturday evening in an area just south of Jackson, Mississippi.

The crash was reported around 7:37 p.m. When deputies arrived, they found a tow truck partially submerged in a nearby pond. The driver of the tow truck, identified as Rico Funchess, was pulled from the vehicle by bystanders. Despite efforts by paramedics to revive him, Funchess was later pronounced dead.

Authorities say Funchess had been hauling another vehicle on the rollback when the crash occurred. The drivers of the other two vehicles involved sustained little to no injuries.

Lieutenant T.J. Picou of the Rankin County Sheriff's Department described the recovery process as complex and time-consuming due to the size and weight of the tow truck.

“The tow truck alone weighs about 18,500 pounds without any load,” Picou said. “With a vehicle on the bed and the truck submerged in mud, it's a lengthy and difficult recovery.”

Brian Grantham, director of Rankin County Emergency Operations, said recovery teams, including rescue divers and recovery specialists, were called in to assist. Complicating matters were power lines hanging directly above the crash site, which limited the ability of cranes and booms to extend fully.

The crash remains under investigation. https://www.wapt.com