Reading, Massachusetts police are searching for the person responsible for hitting the driver of a parked tow truck and then hit-and-run.
The hit-and-run happened Tuesday on King Street, right across from a local school.
The driver, John Koval, 22, said he is lucky to be alive.
“I keep a picture of my family, actually, in my tow truck, and I never thought I’d have to look at it, that I’d need it,” he said. “But I was happy it was on the truck on Tuesday.”
Koval, a tow truck operator at Murray’s Towing in Woburn, said he turned on his lights and then got out of his truck to help a man change his tire.
Shortly after, he said, a woman in a white pickup truck, frustrated by the delay, sped straight toward him.
“Next thing I know, I hear a beep. I look over my left shoulder and I start to hear a horn, and the throttle, and — right through me,” he explained. “I saw her look in the mirror and take off.”
The police report indicates that the passenger side mirror of a white Honda CRV struck Koval in the back, knocking him into the vehicle he was working on.
Koval was taken to the hospital by ambulance with injuries to his back and chest.
Neighbors like Cheryl Collins saw the aftermath of the incident.
“The first thing I noticed was the ambulance and the fire truck,” Collins said. “I can’t imagine anyone not stopping.”
According to the police report, officers interviewed a nearby female who owned a vehicle matching the description of the one that sped off.
After their interview with the police, they wrote the following:
“He said he went through that small step in about the same time period. He says he didn’t hear, feel or see anyone get hit with his car. He says he doesn’t remember going through it, but it could’ve.”
As of Thursday, no charges had been filed.
Koval said he is waiting for the dash cam video to be developed to help police in their investigation.
In the meantime, he wants the incident to be a reminder to all drivers on the road.
“I know it’s inconvenient when tow trucks and emergency vehicles are on the road, but everyone is someone’s child, everyone is someone’s brother or sister,” he said. “I feel like the best thing to do is whenever you see any kind of flashing lights at you, slow down and move.”
