Collision chasing a citywide epidemic: Ottawa police
Ottawa, Ontario — June 2, 2015 — Ottawa’s problem with unsolicited tow truck drivers arriving at collision sites has reached “epidemic proportions,” police say. The Ottawa Citizen reports six tow truck drivers were fined $175 apiece at the scene of a May 26 car crash near Kirkwood and Coldrey avenues. Police issued a seventh driver a warning. According […]
Suspect wanted in Kingston tow yard thefts
Kingston, Ontario — June 2, 2015 — Kingston Police are looking to identify a male suspect caught on camera breaking into the property of a local tow company late last month. The Kingston Heritage reports the suspect, described as a five-foot-five Caucasian man in his early 40s, is seen on surveillance video crossing the yard of […]
Niagara police to hold public consultation process to better tow, taxi services
Niagara Falls, Ontario — May 19, 2015 — The Niagara Regional Police (NRP) Services board is set to begin a public consultation process on improving the area’s vehicle-for-hire services. Bullet News Niagara reports the process, beginning this June, aims to strike a balance between the needs and requirements of the public and tow/taxi services. Taking place […]
Ottawa tower calls two-car fatal crash “brutal”
Ottawa, Ontario — May 11, 2015 — Despite efforts of emergency workers — including two tow truck drivers — a two-vehicle collision on Ottawa’s Greenbank Road has left a 54-year-old man dead. CBC reports the May 9 crash occurred before 7:15 a.m., when the victim’s Mercury Cougar collided with a Toyota Tundra pickup pulling a small trailer. […]
Sunken Ford F350 poses a towing challenge in icy Pontoon Lake
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories — May 7, 2015 — Locals are scratching their heads over how to go about retrieving an $80,000 Ford F350 diesel truck, currently sitting at the bottom of a frozen lake just outside of Yellowknife. EDGE YK reports that on the night of May 5, the vehicle’s owner was driving near the Pontoon […]
Durham police seek tow truck involved in hit and run
Toronto, Ontario — May 5, 2015 — Police are searching for a black tow truck following a hit-and-run incident involving a cyclist in the Uxbridge Township area. The Stouffville Sun-Tribune reports a 33-year-old Torontonian was riding his bike southbound on York-Durham Line near Wagg Road when a black tow truck struck him from behind at around […]
Collision chasing not covered in Bill 15: PTAO President
Ottawa, Ontario — May 4, 2015 — Ontario’s new auto insurance act will directly impact the towing industry, but will not address Ottawa’s issue with “collision chasers,” according to the head of the province’s towing group. Bill 15’s regulatory framework is yet to be finalized, but Provincial Towing Association of Ontario (PTAO) President, Joey Gagne, told […]
Mississauga to introduce new tow truck licensing system
Mississauga, Ontario — April 30, 2015 — The city of Mississauga has announced a new tow truck licensing system is set to take effect July 1. The amendments to the Tow Truck Licensing By-law 521-04 aim to improve safety by ensuring tow trucks meet Ministry of Transportation requirements and city bylaws, according to a recent release. […]
BC judge awards injured tow truck driver nearly $260,000
Prince George, British Columbia — April 28, 2015 — A B.C. Supreme Court judge’s ruling has awarded a former tow truck driver close to $260,000 in damages for long-term injuries stemming from a collision. The Prince George Citizen reports Robert Curry’s tow truck was rear-ended on February 24, 2012 after arriving on the scene of a […]
RAPITOW app featured on BNN reality series THE DISRUPTORS
Toronto, Ontario — April 22, 2015 — The four-month-old roadside assistance app Rapitow recently earned mention on Canada’s Business News Network’s (BNN) all-new reality series, THE DISRUPTORS. Featuring successful Canadian digital innovators who are disrupting industries and changing the way people live their lives, the show debuted April 16 on the network, airing Thursday evenings at […]
