Semi-Truck Accident | Pro-Tow 24 Hr Towing

Safe Accident Recovery When Working Near Powerlines

by cdcidevel | Aug 16, 2023 | Accident Recovery, Box Truck, Box Truck Accident, Powerline Safety, Recovery, Recovery Blog, Semi-Truck Accident

On August 6, 2019, Team Pro-Tow responded to an accident recovery call for a box truck that had hit a power pole on Highway 169 near Maple Valley, WA. Unfortunately, the truck was completely lodged into the power pole.

Powerline safety is critical when dealing with an accident with or near power equipment. In this case, we contacted the local utilities. They ensured the power pole was safe and that our accident recovery would not interfere with the line.

Once we got the go-ahead, we cut off the damaged cargo box and rigged up the truck. Then, we could lift the truck from the power pole and ditch using a three-point rigging system and our heavy-duty crane-style wrecker.

Read more about that box truck accident recovery.

Powerline Safety: What to Do If you Hit Power Equipment in Maple Valley?

Thankfully, this accident didn’t cause significant damage to the power pole or lines, so we safely extracted the vehicle from the scene. However, that is not always the case.
If you come across a vehicle accident that has struck power equipment or you see downed power lines, do the following:

Call 911 or the utility serving the location. In Maple Valley, that is Puget Sound Energy. Utility professionals and emergency personnel will handle the situation if it is deemed unsafe.
If you’re in the vehicle that has contacted the power equipment or have lines on your vehicle, stay in the vehicle. Do not exit until you know for sure the lines are de-energized.
- If you MUST exit the vehicle, jump away from the vehicle, do not touch it, and land with both feet together. Touching the vehicle while stepping onto the ground can cause electrocution.
If you’re not in a vehicle, keep your distance. Stay at least 35 feet away and call for help.
If you’re driving by an accident, do not drive over or under downed power lines.
If you’re trying to move away from the accident on foot, shuffle away with your feet together, taking small shuffling steps until you are 35 feet away. Large steps can create a path for electricity to run through you.

If you have questions or want more information about powerline safety regarding motor vehicle accidents, contact your local electricity provider for resources.

Semi-Truck Towing on April Fools Day

by cdcidevel | Jan 4, 2023 | Diesel Fuel Spill Recovery, Fuel Spill Cleanup, Fuel Spill Recovery, Heavy Duty Tow, Heavy Duty Towing, Recovery Blog, Semi-Truck, Semi-Truck Accident, Semi-Truck Towing, Truck Accident, Truck Towing

On April 1, 2022, Team Pro-Tow responded to an accident involving a semi-truck and trailer, and a bus. Unfortunately, there was significant damage to the semi-truck, including the fuel tank. This job required semi-truck towing and a diesel fuel spill recovery.

Diesel Fuel Spill Recovery on April Fool’s Day

Diesel fuel was all over the roadway, and this was no April Fool’s Day joke! We worked closely with our Pro-Enviro spill response team to conduct a scene assessment and develop an accident and spill recovery plan. Containing the fuel spill and ensuring it didn’t spread was critical before any semi-truck towing could occur.

First, we ensured the leaky tank was no longer spilling fuel. Then, we used absorbents to the spill to dry up the contaminates so they could be swept away and disposed of. When working on a spill recovery, we thoroughly clean all contaminated areas. A thorough cleanup of spilled substances like fuel reduces the risk of pollution, fires, and traffic hazards.

Learn more about effective diesel fuel spill recovery with Pro-Enviro.

Then It’s Time for Semi-Truck Towing

Once the fuel was contained and cleaned, Team Pro-Tow could rig up the casualty and remove it from the scene. First, we detached the truck from the trailer to make the process easier. That way, we could remove each casualty at a time. Then, we towed the truck and trailer to our secure storage yard, filled out the required paperwork and called it a job well done.

Accident Recovery You Can Count On

Pro-Tow offers heavy-truck towing, accident recovery, and emergency towing services throughout Washington State. We have heavy-duty equipment and highly trained and experienced operators that can get your big trucks and equipment out of any mess.

You’ll find Pro-Tow 24-Hour Towing Services in Auburn, Spokane, Maple Valley, and North Bend, but we service the entire state and beyond. Learn more about our services at www.pro-tow.com.

Accident Recovery on a Leaky Semi-Truck

by cdcidevel | Dec 1, 2021 | Accident Recovery, Emergency Incident Response, Heavy Duty Towing Service, Recovery Blog, Semi-Truck, Semi-Truck Accident, Semi-Truck Accident Recovery, Semi-Truck Spill Recovery, Spill Cleanup, Spill Recovery, Trailer Recovery

On April 23, 2021, Team Pro-Tow received an emergency dispatch from Washington State Police about a bobtail tractor collision. Without any other information, we set out with a requested C-class heavy-duty wrecker.

Heavy Duty Towing Service Required

We arrived at the scene, performed a scene evaluation, and found the bobtail tractor resting precariously against the guard rail. Not only that but the engine oil pan was also damaged and had already lost 10 to 15 gallons of engine oil. That was a big problem that we needed to address immediately with special accident recovery care.

We put together a recovery plan, including calculating weights and distance for the safest and quickest recovery. Team Pro-Tow handled the work of recovering the bobtail tractor by using the HD Crane-style rotating wrecker. We brought in additional equipment to complete the recovery safely, and our skilled operators got to work. We safely recovered the casualty without any additional spills or damage. Then provided a heavy-duty towing service to remove the casualty from the scene so fuel spill cleanup could begin.

Fuel Spill Cleanup

The next step in the accident recovery was the fuel spill containment, cleanup, and some debris cleanup. Again, team Pro-Enviro was on the scene taking care of the spill recovery.

Meanwhile, WSP informed the Washington State Department of Ecology about what was involved in the accident recovery and cleanup. We also dispatched additional equipment required for the cleanup. Our team worked with efficiency and speed to clean up the debris and spill on the road. Only once the roadway was back to its original condition was the job complete.

We got to the storage yard and returned all the equipment to its original location and condition. Once we completed the paperwork, we gave the cleared call on a heavy-duty towing service and cleanup job well done.

Heavy Truck Tow Out of Snowy Ditch

by cdcidevel | Nov 3, 2021 | Emergency Incident Response, Heavy Truck Tow, Heavy Truck Towing, Recovery Blog, Semi-Truck, Semi-Truck Accident, Semi-Truck Accident Recovery, Trailer Recovery

On November 3rd, 2020, a truck with a loaded trailer slid into a snowy ditch and needed a rescue. Upon arrival, our team quickly put together a recovery plan and rescued the stuck trailer with a heavy truck tow.

Incidents like these can, unfortunately, be a common issue during the winter. Slippery roads and ever-changing weather conditions can make driving a truck a challenge. That’s where proper winter preparation and road safety is essential.

Here are some safety tips for winter driving, truck and equipment checks. Keep these tips in mind to minimize or eliminate the need for emergency towing services.

Prepare for Winter Driving

The first step to avoiding an emergency or breakdown is to prepare. In the winter, check your tires and make sure they are winter-ready. Start with equipping winter tires and then check that the tire pressure is in the correct range. Proper tire pressure plays a crucial role in safely braking, turning, and gripping snowy or icy roads. Your tires are essential to avoid sliding into the ditch and needing semi-truck towing.

In the worst-case scenario that you end up in an emergency or are waiting for a heavy-truck tow, make sure to pack an emergency kit. Include things like a shovel, extra warm clothing, water, a first aid kit, and heavy-duty traction pads.

Regular Inspections Are Key

When driving in the winter, ensure your battery is fully charged, your cooling systems are working, and the fuel tanks are always at least 50% full. Also, always do pre-and post-trip inspections to ensure that nothing has become damaged during a winter trip.

Always double-check that your chains and ties are correctly locked down for heavy loads to avoid load shifts or tilts. Keep in mind that Pro-Tow can always help if you need help with a load shift or emergency towing service.

No matter what help you need and what season, our Pro-Tow team is always here to help. We have all the equipment and knowledge to provide semi-truck towing, recovery, or emergency rescues.

Beef at 47 Cargo and Truck Recovery

by cdcidevel | Oct 20, 2021 | Cargo Recovery, Emergency Incident Response, Recovery Blog, Semi-Truck, Semi-Truck Accident, Semi-Truck Accident Recovery, Semi-Truck Spill Recovery, Spill Cleanup, Spill Recovery, Trailer Recovery

On February 26, 2021, a transport trucker lost a snow chain on the I-90, westbound at exit 47. When the snow chain snapped, it damaged his tire, which led to damage to his fully-loaded semi-trailer. The damage was mainly to the structural frame of the trailer and fuel line, resulting in fuel to steam on the road and adjacent snowpack.

Fuel spill recovery

This accident needed fuel spill recovery, as well as heavy-duty towing and cargo recovery. Because of the accident, the trailer refrigerator wasn’t running, and it was carrying 38,000 pounds of frozen beef. Upon investigation, the customer saw that the fuel spill was severe. We estimate there were 10 to 20 gallons of fuel that required fuel spill recovery.

Team Pro-Enviro went to work to repair the leaky fuel line, contain the spill, and with extensive cleanup of the road and surrounding snowbanks. Meanwhile, Team Pro-Tow created a recovery plan to complete trailer recovery to save the beef, and heavy-duty towing services. Read more about Pro-Enviro’s spill recovery efforts with this incident.

Heavy-Duty Towing

Team Pro-Tow brought a heavy-duty wrecker that could tow the trailer and its 38,000-pound load of valuable beef. Fortunately, we repaired the fuel and electrical lines to the refrigerator to save the cow!

After we repaired the trailer and Pro-Enviro had completed the cleanup, we could load it up for safe transport. The client was happy that the incident didn’t spoil the beef, and it was a successful cargo recovery. Once we got our equipment back to the shop, we cleaned and conditioned everything for the next job.

Working as a Team

When there is a semi-truck accident that involves a fuel or oil spill, Team Pro-Tow and Team Pro-Enviro work together on the response. Pro-Tow handles the complex heavy-duty towing, including complicated crane lift and uprighting of extremely heavy trucks and equipment. However, before that can happen, Pro-Enviro ensures fuel spill containment and repairs to prevent further contamination during transport of the casualty. Pro-Enviro also takes care of spill recovery and cleanup.

If an accident requires an experienced heavy-duty recovery team, you can always call on Pro-Tow.

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