A tow truck driver was killed Thursday afternoon in a crash that shut down all lanes of I-575 South in Cherokee County.
Woodstock police said officers were called about 1:10 p.m. after the man, identified as Frank Lee Ingram, 48, of Woodstock, was struck by a vehicle. It was not clear if he was assisting another motorist at the time.
Ingram owned a towing and impound service based in Woodstock and was known for racing on the clay dirt track at Dixie Speedway.
“Our hearts are heavy tonight for the tragic loss of Frank Ingram,” the speedway posted on Facebook, asking for prayers for his family. “Frank was a huge part of Dixie Speedway racing history.”
For more than an hour before the evening drive, I-575 South was shut down between Sixes Road and Ridgeway Parkway. All lanes reopened by 3:45 p.m., but gridlock conditions lingered between Holly Springs and Woodstock for much of the afternoon, the WSB 24-hour Traffic Center reported.
Woodstock police investigated with the assistance of the Woodstock Fire Department, Holly Springs Police Department and Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, according to department spokesperson Brittany Page.
No other details were released about the crash, which remained under investigation Friday. Police did not say if the driver who hit Ingram would face charges.
As news of Ingram’s death spread, those in the racing and wrecker communities took to social media to post tributes. Many took the opportunity to remind motorists of Georgia’s Move Over law, which requires drivers to move over one lane when possible if an emergency vehicle is parked on the shoulder.
Ingram is the third tow truck driver killed in metro Atlanta this year. According to the motor club AAA, an average of 24 emergency responders, including tow providers, are struck and killed by vehicles each year.
“Deaths like these can be avoided if drivers slow down and move over to give these people room to work safely,” AAA president and CEO Marshall Doney said. “We can’t stress enough how important it is to pay attention so you have time to change lanes when you see AAA, an emergency responder, or simply anybody along the side of the road.”
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