Stranded vehicles litter the toll roads following the holiday blizzard, keeping towing companies busy

 

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Michiana is still recovering from the holiday blizzard, and after a weekend of slide-offs, rollovers, and stranded cars, towing companies have their work cut out for them.

Anyone driving the turnpike following this weekend's blizzard will see scores of cars and semi-trucks stranded on the side of the road. Crews are still working to recover vehicles left behind.

"So there were multiple slide-offs, often we'd pull up on a scene, and between pulling a car out, you can hardly see the car you're pulling out, let alone, keep an eye out for traffic that's whizzing by," said heavy wrecker operator Matthew Riffel.

Following the Christmas storm, trucks and other vehicles litter the toll roads.

"Kind of as soon as the snow hit, we were out and about recovering vehicles," said heavy-duty tow operator Tyler Lyon.

For towing companies, the storm meant all hands on deck. Rescues were common this weekend for the crews at Reichert & Knepp Heavy Towing and Road Service.

"This is what we do," Riffel said. "We're out here to serve our community and to provide this service for them and do it as safely as we can to get home."

Tow operators sacrificed holiday festivities with their families to do their jobs. And at times, even risked their lives.

"People have to pay attention to our flashing lights and everything on our trucks and make sure to give us space on the side of the road," Lyon said. "Because we are crawling underneath vehicles and all around them, trying to get them off the roadway and get that roadway clear for everybody."

It could take several days to clear all the stranded vehicles from the side of the road. In the meantime, steer clear of crews working, and slow down to keep everybody safe.