A tow truck driver from Chicago was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver on Tuesday in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. According to FOX6 News, the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department reported the accident occurred at approximately 6:41 p.m. as the operator, Hussain Farhat, was assisting a disabled vehicle on the shoulder of eastbound I-94, east of Sawyer Road.
The 40-year-old victim, Farhat of Yaffo Towing, was conducting a service that many in his profession perform daily, often without a second thought from passing drivers. In a showing of solidarity and grief, his colleagues illuminated the night with their trucks in a vigil held the following evening, said Kris Martinez who organized the event, "Everyone coming out here on Christmas Day, coming with their families to pay their respects for him." The blue minivan involved in the crash fled the scene after striking Farhat and was later located following a tip-off, shared by WIFR.
In a move that could remind one of the deepest regrets that chase our conscience after calamity has struck, a 39-year-old man turned himself in connection with the incident. He is now being held at the Waukesha County Jail on a charge of hit-and-run causing death, as reported by CBS News Chicago. Law enforcement officials and the towing community hope this tragedy will reinforce the importance of road safety laws, specifically those designed to protect those working on the roadways.
The outpouring of support for Farhat serves as a poignant testament to the bond shared within the towing community. Some who attended the vigil, such as Zach Arnett and Ryan Tessman, spoke on the familial nature of their work. "It’s a tight brotherhood. When something like this happens, when one of us falls, we always stick together, come out and support each other," Arnett told WIFR. Tessman echoed this sentiment, urging drivers to "Just remember to slow down and move over, put that phone down and pay attention."
