Tow truck operator killed in hit-and-run crash on I-5
Officials said the tow truck driver was on the ramp from Spokane Street to southbound I-5 working on a vehicle damaged in an earlier crash when he was hit Friday morning.
Story Published: Sep 24, 2010 at 7:24 AM PDT
Story Updated: Sep 25, 2010 at 2:38 PM PDT
Officials said the 51-year-old tow truck driver was on the ramp from Spokane Street to southbound I-5 working on a vehicle damaged in an earlier crash when he was hit about 1:15 a.m.
William Padilla, who worked for GT Towing in Seattle, was kneeling down at the front of the disabled car when a man driving an SUV in the HOV lane lost control and drove across all southbound lanes before hitting the tow truck operator.
"We had DOT at the scene doing traffic control... so it was a pretty safe scene," Washington State Patrol Trooper Trisena John said.
"But, still, this person for some reason cut across all lanes and ended up hitting this tow truck driver even though there was plenty of traffic control and plenty of lights to notify approaching traffic that there was a collision scene ahead."
Padilla, of Burien, died at the scene.
Investigators said the woman driving the SUV sped off but was captured minutes later at the bottom of the Michigan Street off ramp.
The driver and another person who was in the car at the time of the crash were arrested and booked into the King County Jail. Officials said both were under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
(article link http://www.komonews.com/news/local/103711174.html )
