Top stories this month from Tow Times Magazine

California Tow Operator Dies from Medical Emergency While Clearing Crash

Responding to a vehicle crash in Bakersfield, Calif., a tow truck driver has died while clearing a crash on Tuesday night, October 4. The Bakersfield Police Department reports the operator was working a minor injury crash at approximately 5:22 p.m. on Coffee Road north of Stockdale Highway when the operator died from a medical emergency. The operator’s identity has not been released to the public.

Peterbilt Launches Special Edition Model 389X

Peterbilt Motors Company has announced the launch of the limited-release Model 389X. The 389X celebrates the iconic status of the Model 389 with a new and distintive special edition.

The 389X was engineered in the heritage of the Model 389 with its bold styling and bright exterior features. The 389X includes a highly polished hood crown surrounding a louvered grille sheet inspired by the classic style of the first 1939 Peterbilt. The hood features a high-gloss, polished centerline trim, exclusive side-hood chrome accents and polished hood fenders. Other eye-catching features include large, 7 in. chrome exhaust stacks, cowl skirts, fuel tanks, sunvisor, bumper and battery box. The 389X also includes a sleek and impressive exterior lighting package, with LED amber color light strips that provide dazzling lighting in the air cleaners and under the rocker panels. In addition, the truck features 389X exterior badging on the mud flaps as well as near the cab or sleeper.

The dash panels feature a brand new Black Pearl burl woodgrain. Special black-finish trim accents can be found throughout the cab and sleeper. Additional special features include bright chrome grab handles, a 389X emblem on the shifter plate, embroidered 389X badging on the headrests and badging on the sleeper backwall. Each 389X includes a serialized, chrome dash plate with the production number of the truck to commemorate each special edition vehicle, as well as a kit of custom 389X merchandise.

“The new 389X is superior in every detail. From its classic design and high-quality craftsmanship to its exclusive chrome elements and details both inside and out, the 389X will quickly become the most desirable truck on the road,” said Robert Woodall, assistant general manager of sales and marketing. “I look forward to seeing this great truck and its proud owners on road across North America very soon.”

The Model 389X can be ordered as a day cab or in a 72- or 78-inch sleeper configuration.  The 389X production will be limited to only 1,389 trucks and is available for order now through Peterbilt dealerships.

Texas Tow Operator Struck and Killed on I-40

An Amarillo, Texas, tow operator was killed Friday, Oct. 21, after being struck by a semi-trailer on I-40 approximately 36 miles west of Vega, Texas. Texas Department of Public Safety officials said operator Scottie Dunn, 42, was standing on the shoulder of I-40 westbound at approximately 5:15 a.m. after hooking to a semi-trailer. An oncoming semi-trailer driven by Shavinder Singh, 32, of Livermore, Calif., then struck the disabled truck, the tow truck, and Dunn. The semi-trailer continued westbound, then into a ditch, rolling on its side. Dunn and Singh were pronounced dead at the scene. The Texas Highway Patrol is investigating the incident.