A tow truck operator was seriously injured Sunday evening after a roadside confrontation with another driver on Interstate 70 just west of Limon, according to authorities. The encounter unfolded at about 7:33 p.m. on July 5 at mile marker 347 as the operator was preparing to remove a disabled vehicle. He was transported to a nearby hospital with serious bodily injuries. Troopers say the suspect fled eastbound in a silver 2007 Dodge Dakota hauling a two-wheel car and five tires. Anyone with information is asked to call Pueblo dispatch at 719-544-2424 and reference case 3D260690.
According to CBS Colorado, the situation escalated after the tow operator waved to a passing vehicle to move over. The suspect allegedly stopped his truck in front of the tow rig, then engaged the operator in a physical altercation before driving away. Investigators described the suspect as a white male about six feet tall in his mid-50s with a receding hairline and long hair in the back, wearing jean overalls and a white T-shirt referencing a Utah national park.
Move-over law and roadside safety
Colorado law requires drivers to move over or slow down for stopped roadside vehicles, including tow trucks, and penalties increase if someone is hurt, under C.R.S. § 42-4-705. The statute says that on highways with multiple lanes in the same direction, drivers must change lanes away from a stopped vehicle when it is safe to do so. If a lane change is not possible, motorists must slow and proceed with caution, per the Colorado Revised Statutes. Troopers and safety advocates say the rule is meant to protect roadside workers who are especially exposed when loading or clearing vehicles.
Tow operators’ on-the-job risk
Tow operators face an outsized workplace hazard: NIOSH and BLS data show hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries in the industry, with 191 fatalities in the motor-vehicle towing sector from 2011 through 2016. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has urged stronger traffic-incident management and public awareness to protect roadside crews, noting that many incidents involve workers being struck by passing traffic. Operators and agencies say high-visibility warnings, controlled staging, and treating every roadside scene as dangerous are key to reducing risk.
The Colorado State Patrol is again asking anyone who saw the encounter or the silver Dodge to call Pueblo dispatch at 719-544-2424 and reference case 3D260690. CBS Colorado noted it was not immediately clear whether charges had been filed. Troopers continue to investigate and are urging anyone with tips to come forward.
