Julian Ramirez, a 24-year-old tow truck driver and father of six, is clinging to life in a San Antonio-area hospital after a brutal hit-and-run early on Feb. 16 on Loop 410 near Ray Ellison Drive. Family members say Ramirez was struck and left on the roadside while he was out working, towing another vehicle. His injuries are catastrophic and include brain stem damage and the loss of a leg, relatives say. The crash has triggered a police investigation and a community push to raise money for mounting medical bills, according to KENS5.
Detectives say they are looking for a light-colored sedan and describe the car as having significant damage, which family members say makes it clear the driver did not just graze Ramirez and keep going. Investigators have already spoken with witnesses and are pleading for anyone with dash-cam or traffic-camera footage from the Loop 410 area that night to come forward. Those details, along with the family’s account, were first reported by KENS5.
Family: 'He has too much to live for'
Julian's mother, Brandy Salinas, told reporters that "we got the call no parent wants to receive" as the family laid out the staggering list of injuries. Relatives say Ramirez suffered a skull fracture, torn colon, broken pelvis and ribs, orbital and nasal fractures, strokes on both sides of his brain and brain-stem damage. His right leg was severed at the knee and later amputated to the hip, and he now depends on a feeding tube.
The family has launched a GoFundMe to help cover his medical care and to support Ramirez's six children, whose ages range from seven months to 5 years, according to KENS5. Loved ones say they are holding on to the belief that, despite his injuries, he has too much to live for.
Move-over law and roadside safety
Towing operators in Texas are not supposed to be sitting ducks on the shoulder. They are explicitly protected under the state's "Move Over, Slow Down" law, which requires drivers to move out of the lane next to stopped tow trucks or, if that is not possible, to slow to a reduced speed. Lawmakers have expanded the statute in recent sessions, and penalties increase sharply when someone gets hurt. As outlined in the agency's legislative summary, TxDOT details fines and potential misdemeanor or felony charges in injury cases. The law exists to give roadside workers and first responders a fighting chance at staying safe while doing their jobs.
How to help
The family says the immediate priority is Julian’s care and the wellbeing of his six young children. Detectives have spoken with at least two witnesses, and anyone with information, video or photos from SW Loop 410 near Ray Ellison on Feb. 16 is urged to contact the San Antonio Police Department.
Ramirez’s loved ones are coordinating donations to help keep the family afloat and are asking for privacy as he undergoes intensive treatment.
