BY EMILY MIBACH
Daily Post Staff Writer
A tow truck driver who contracts with a state agency was killed today (June 23) on Interstate 280 between Farm Hill Boulevard and Edgewood Road in Redwood City, according to CHP.
The man, who is in his 60s and is from Castro Valley or Dublin, was a driver with the Bay Area Freeway Service Patrol, or FSP, a program that works with Caltrans and the CHP to quickly respond to vehicle breakdowns that occur during rush hour, said CHP Officer Art Montiel.
At 3:40 p.m., the man was working on a car on the right shoulder of southbound 280 when a large red lumber truck swerved off the interstate and hit both the FSP truck and the man, Montiel said.
The CHP doesn’t know why the truck swerved off the road, Montiel said.
The driver of the red truck stopped a little ways away from the scene, said Montiel. The man is 25 and from San Jose, his name is not being released yet.
Montiel said that drivers need to remember to slow down or pull into the next lane if they see a utility or emergency vehicle in the right shoulder with its emergency lights on.
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People think tow trucks are not emergency response vehicles
The people of the FSP are saints in coveralls. My mother-in-law drove between San Francisco and Redwood City along 280 well into her 80s. Her car broke down at one point, and someone stopped within a few minutes to help her. He was part of the FSP. He took care of the problem and got her on her way. She was forever grateful. This happened over twenty years ago.
Thank You, the man killed was my cousin and loved by all. Rest In Peace Mark
FSP drivers are indeed “saints in coveralls,” what a great phrase. My truck ran out of gas (the gas gauge had broken) and someone from the FSP pushed me – stood behind my truck and pushed me while I steered in neutral! – to safety, risking his life. I was 17, terrified, and have never never forgotten him. My condolences to the family and also to the driver of the truck, what a terrible thing to take a life by accident
I am so sorry for the loss of your cousin, Mark. As others have stated, FSP workers are saints. My car died unexpectedly a couple years ago on 280 and then the engine started smoking. It was rush hour and I had no idea what to do. My angel stopped shortly afterwards and looked at my engine and put water in the radiator and told me not to drive it because the engine could explode. I know he saved my life…I will never forget it.