California Tow Operator Severely Injured by Suspected DUI Driver

Police arrested a man Thursday, April 15, in Modesto, Calif., for alleged driving while intoxicated after he crashed his vehicle into a tow truck, seriously injuring the tow operator.

According to the California Highway Patrol, operator Sammie Franks, 55, was driving a tow truck east on Highway 12 near the Camanche Reservoir at approximately 5:20 p.m. when Gabrial Fernandez, 34, driving a Nissan violated Franks’ right-of way, causing the tow truck to collide with the right side of the Nissan.

The tow truck lost control after striking the Nissan, causing it to crash into a building and two pickups.

The Nissan left the roadway and came to rest in a field.

Franks was airlifted to Doctors Medical Center with major injuries. Fernandez was hospitalized with moderate injuries and later jailed on a charge of suspicion of DUI causing injury.