Vigil for Washington State Tower

Towers gathered for a vigil to remember Joe Masterson, who died after being struck by a Fed-Ex truck on I-5 in Washington on 2/15. Masterson was in the process of towing a box truck on the freeway when he was hit by the driver, who was suspected of being under the influence and arrested by authorities. 

John Lux, a tow truck operator of 15 years and owner of Shannon Towing Inc. in Lynnwood, Wash., said he knew Masterson, and wanted to help remember his life. 

"When you're able to meet somebody and remember them, that's what kind of person Joe was. He would always help people out," Lux said. 

Lux and other tow operators gathered at a parking lot in Lynwood to light up their trucks to show support of Masterson's life and work.  Masterson's co-workers said his death was a reminder as to why drivers need to move over and were advocating for blue lights in addition to red flashers while on the job.

Washington legislation is pending to allow tow truck operators to use not only red lights but rear-facing blue lights to increase visibility when they are pulled over.     "We had two tow truck operators killed in the line of duty in Cowlitz County last year alone," Rep. Ed Orcutt (R-Kalama) said in a House Transportation Committee hearing earlier this month.  Source