SAN BERNARDINO, CA. (Pain In The Pass) >> Tons of Southern California tow operators gathered and drove in a procession Saturday morning to pay tribute to 41-year-old Michael Micheletti, a resident of San Bernardino.
The beloved father, friend and tow truck driver from San Bernardino was killed Tuesday, November 8, 2022 while attempting to tow a semi-tractor near the corner of Oasis Avenue and Two Mile Road in Twentynine Palms. Michelleti was working for Statewide Towing.
The San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department said the incident happened around 5pm as Micheletti secured a tractor-trailer to his tow truck. It is unclear what happened, the tractor portion somehowbecame detached from the lift of the tow truck. The tractor slid off, rolling backwards and trapping him under the tractor. Micheletti was then dragged approximately 50 feet before being dislodged from under the tractor. He was taken to an area hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Dozens of tow trucks from around the region, some from as far as San Diego from reports, gathered in the parking lot of the Inland Center Mall in San Bernardino around 10:30pm to participate in a memorial procession.
The procession traveled several freeways Interstate 215, I-10 and I15 then ended at the Pro Image Transport Yard at 19600 Kendall Drive in San Bernardino where colleagues, other drivers and their families gathered to remember Micheletti.
Micheletti grew up in San Bernardino, graduated from San Bernardino High School, and proudly served in the United States Navy. He leaves behind two children; a daughter 13 year-old Bristol Gene Micheletti and a son 4 year old Aaron James Micheletti.
Experts estimate that there are 43 tow truck fatalities for every 100,000 workers in the industry, so in honor of Micheletti, today’s message from tow truck driver’s and their families is simple: “Any kind of flashing lights, I don’t care if it’s a car, with their hazards on, slow down, move over,” Slow down and move over when there are emergency vehicles on the road.
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