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Hundreds to honor tow truck driver killed in Andover crash

ANDOVER, Mass. – Just a few days after a tow truck driver was killed while working on the side of I-495 in Andover, a second tow truck driver was involved in a close call.

Dan Coady was killed Wednesday night while responding to a crash. His wake was held Tuesday, and attended by hundreds of people hoping to say goodbye.

“It’s what we do every day – we essentially take our lives into our own hands by working the highways day and night,” Jeremy Procon, Western Director of the Statewide Towing Association, said.

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Coady was standing next to his truck in the breakdown lane preparing to load a car when he was hit.

Tow truck driver William Castillo said he could have also been killed in a similar crash Tuesday morning, but he was sitting in the cab when a suspected drunk driver crashed into his truck.

“I was inside my truck but I was getting ready to get out that’s when it all happened,” Castillo said. “If I was outside of the truck, I would have gotten hit.”

Castillo is home recovering, thankful to be alive because he knows how easily the outcome could be different.

“It’s unfortunate we see these incidents far too often,” Procon said. “People need to be more careful.”

Procon and others at Coady’s wake had a message for drivers.

“Move over one lane or reduce the posted speed limit by half,” he said. “It gives the operator room to work whether you’re a recovery operator, a police officer or a fireman – it gives them room to work.”

A procession for Coady will take place Wednesday morning. More than 200 tow trucks are expected to be involved.

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