In the wake of a Philadelphia auto accident, drivers, passengers, and police usually work quickly to take care of injuries, exchange information, and get those who need help to medical facilities ASAP. But in the midst of the frenetic post-accident activity, another drama often takes place on the sidelines -- a tow truck turf war.
Tow truck drivers across the city scramble to respond to Philadelphia auto accidents to tow away damaged cars for profit. Ordinarily, these "wreck chasers," as they are colorfully known, don't intervene much with Philadelphia auto accident injury crashes. But recently, a turf war exploded in a hail of gunfire, blown up cars, and allegations of attempted murder.
Tow Truck Turf War Background
Several weeks ago, in response to police reports of a Philadelphia motor vehicle accident in North Philly, Jose LaTorre Jr. showed up at the scene in his Cadillac Escalade and claimed the right to tow away a broken Dodge Neon. A few minutes later, another tow truck driver from the company Mystical Towing arrived on scene to tow away the Neon. The two tow truck operators got into a war of words - LaTorre Jr. said that he arrived first. The other driver said that, since LaTorre didn't have a truck, he couldn't claim the right to tow the car. Ultimately, LaTorre whipped out a gun and shot the Mystical Towing driver in leg.
Two days later, a suspect torched 13 cars on the lot of Jose LaTorre's company. That same night, someone fired gunshots at John Campbell, the owner of Mystical Towing, and nearly hit Campbell's wife. Campbell told police that he believed a third tow truck company might have been responsible for both the gunfire and for the torching of the cars at the J & Son's lot - Campbell believes this third-party was trying to instigate an even more brutal turf war to clear out the competition.
The tow truck turf war is an ongoing headache for police and local law makers, who want to reassure victims of Philadelphia auto accidents that they will be safe and protected if they need emergency road help. But many local residents are more than a little alarmed. After all, accident victims are particularly vulnerable, afraid, and in need of help - the last thing they need is gunfire drama pulling focus and potentially preventing them from getting care.
If you or someone you love has been in a Pennsylvania auto accident, and you suffered damage to your property or serious injury, it's in your interest to speak ASAP with a qualified and credentialed Philadelphia car accident lawyer. Connect with the legal team at Rosenbaum & Associates for a free and confidential consultation at 1-800-7-LEGAL-7, or browse the firm's official website to learn more about the lawyers' credentials and philosophy.
