UKIAH, 11/19/19 — A GoFundMe has been started to assist with funeral costs for the family of Jesus Hernandez, the tow truck driver who was killed during a towing operation on U.S. Route 101 on November 15 (see below). Hernandez leaves behind his wife Veronica, son Jesus, and daughters Aislinn and Jezebele. As of late evening on November 19, the fund had raised about $13,000 out of a goal of $20,000. Here’s the link to the fundraiser.
UKIAH, 11/16/19 — A tow truck driver was killed yesterday when the vehicle he was preparing to load into his flatbed truck rolled over him, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP).
Jesus Hernandez, 47 of Santa Rosa, was loading a disabled pick-up onto his flatbed tow truck, on the shoulder of the northbound lanes of U.S. Route 101 near Comminsky Station Road, yesterday evening. Emergency personnel found the flatbed lower, and the winch attached to the disabled pick-up. Hernandez was found on the ground next to the the pick-up which was in neutral gear, and appeared to have rolled over him. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Tor truck driving is among the most dangerous job in America. In fact, only a handful of other professions have a higher fatality rate, those being roofers, pilots and flight engineers, and two other venerable Mendocino professions: fisherman and loggers.
Here is the summary of the incident from the CHP:
On 11-15-2019, at approximately 1840 hours, the CHP Ukiah Area received a call of a traffic collision on the east shoulder of US-101 near Comminsky Station Road. Upon arrival of emergency personnel, the involved party was pronounced deceased. Preliminary investigations revealed that the tow truck operator (later identified as Jesus Hernandez) was attempting to tow a disabled pickup. The flat bed on the tow truck was lowered and all rear white and yellow lights were activated. The winch on the tow truck was attached to the pickup. Hernandez was on the ground near the front of the pickup. It appears that the pickup, which was in neutral, rolled forward causing fatal injuries to Hernandez. The incident remains under investigation. Alcohol and drugs are not believed to be a factor in this collision.
CHP