California Tow Operator Killed by Semi While Assisting Disabled Vehicle

A AAA tow operator, approximately 35 years old, was struck and killed Friday evening, May 31, by a semi-truck while preparing to tow a disabled pickup near Castaic, California. The semi-truck fled the scene.

News and police reports state the operator was working alongside the southbound 5 Freeway. The crash occurred at approximately 8:15 p.m. The operator was pronounced dead at the scene.

The truck that hit the operator was described by witnesses as red-and-black with a double trailer loaded with a rock-like material and possibly having Arizona license plates.

The occupants of the disabled pickup were inside the vehicle when the operator was hit and were not injured.

The California Highway Patrol issued a SigAlert in the area and shut down two lanes of the freeway.

The CHP is investigating the incident. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the CHP’s Newhall-area office at 661-294-5540.