Liverpool, N.Y. — More than 35 tow trucks lined up on the Onondaga Lake Parkway Friday night, with lights flashing in the dark.
The lights flickered across the small pond behind them, making the water red, blue and yellow.
“Out of all the people in this industry, why him?” asked Joe Britton, who works at Pascarella’s Towing Service.
Britton was one of the drivers representing 30 Central New York towing companies that gathered to remember Irael Martinez.
Martinez, owner of Martinez Towing, was loading a vehicle onto his truck on Feb. 24 when a driver did not move over and his SUV hit him.
Deputies said the driver, Richard Congel, 76, of Clay, was under the influence of drugs.
Martinez was in critical condition for three weeks until he died at Upstate University Hospital on Friday, said Sgt. Jon Seeber, a spokesperson for the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office.
Martinez, 48, had immigrated from Cuba and started a towing company in 2014.
“He was like a sponge, he was very curious,” Britton said. Martinez would often stop in at Pascarella’s to ask questions.
When Martinez was ordering a new truck he got one identical to one of Britton’s, he said. Britton called his truck and Martinez’s “sister trucks.”
Irael Martinez, 48, was hit by a car driven by Richard Congel, owner of R. C. Congel boats, on the Onondaga Lake Parkway in the town of Salina at 11:11 a.m. Thursday Feb. 24. Provided by Ilidia Nicholas
Martinez was a caring and happy guy, said Angela Stefanowski, owner of American Towing. He loved his work in part because he was able to help people who were down on their luck, she said.
He did not have the same competitive nature that is common among local tow-truck drivers, Britton said.
When someone would call Pasacarella’s and didn’t have the money to pay, Britton said he would send them over to Martinez.
Martinez would help the person even if he didn’t make a profit, Britton said.
Britton and Stefanowski plan to erect a cross to Martinez where he was hit on the parkway. Britton said he is making the cross himself.
“I’m doing this as a respect to him and hopefully an education to others,” Britton said.
Other drivers have been remembering Martinez and reminding people to move over.
Michael Epolito, of Midstate and Syracuse Towing, for more than a week parked a truck with its lights on at the spot where Martinez was hit.
“I want to make it known things aren’t being done,” Epolito said. “Let’s watch out a little further down the road.”
A tow truck parked on the Onondaga Lake Parkway in Salina on Monday, Feb. 28, 2022. It has been parked there with lights on as a reminder to drivers to move over after tow truck driver Irael Martinez was hit by an SUV on Thursday on the parkway (Rylee Kirk |rkirk@syracuse.com)
Tow truck drivers from across the state are planning to come pay their respects to Martinez, Britton said.
Drivers from Elmira, Watertown, Binghamton and even Pennsylvania have been reaching out to Britton to ask about the funeral services, he said.
Britton said there would likely be an “enormous funeral procession” of tow trucks to pay tribute to Martinez at his funeral.
The services have yet to be set by the family, Britton said.
Since the vigil on the parkway Friday, Britton hasn’t been able to stop thinking about Martinez.
“I had a dream the parkway had a billboard with his picture on it,” he said. “They had renamed it the Irael Martinez Memorial Parkway.”
Just over 35 tow trucks lined up on the Onondaga Lake Parkway March 11 in memory of Irael Martinez who was hit by a driver while loading a car onto his truck on Feb. 24, 2022. (Courtesy Joe Britton)
Staff writer Rylee Kirk covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, story idea, photo, question or comment? Reach her at 315-396-5961, on Twitter @kirk_rylee, or rkirk@syracuse.com.
"gather" - Google News
March 14, 2022 at 12:11AM
https://ift.tt/I72DCMY
Tow truck drivers gather to remember driver who was struck on parkway, killed - syracuse.com
"gather" - Google News
https://ift.tt/neXqBN8
https://ift.tt/CPAMUZg
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Tow truck drivers gather to remember driver who was struck on parkway, killed - syracuse.com"
Post a Comment