WILMINGTON, Mass. — A tow truck driver helping a stranded motorist was caught in the middle of a violent crash in Wilmington.
It was a dangerous situation that police say should have been prevented.
At one point, the woman driving the tow truck was pinned under the vehicle and, amazingly, she survived.
But now, the accident is prompting some serious questions about why the driver who caused it didn't move over.
The front wheels of the tow truck were thrown from the rest of the vehicle when a driver slammed into the truck stopped on the side of Interstate 93.
John Spanks owns the truck. It was one of his employees -- and a close friend -- driving it.
Sparks said the driver went to help a stranded motorist, when a car came up behind them and ran right into the tow truck.
"This was merely the fact: there's someone in danger, let's make sure they're okay," said Spanks. "The front axle actually swung around and hit my driver, not just hit her and knocked her over, but she caught the front axle of my truck."
That axle had landed on the 28-year-old, pinning her against the truck.
"The person who pulled her from the under the axle thought that she was dead," Spanks explained.
According to Spanks, the driver of the car was texting while driving, but state troopers said Monday that's not one of the charges the woman faces. Only that she failed to change lanes as part of the "move over" law.
Friends of the victim say this should be a wake-up call for everyone.
"Pay attention," Spanks said. "For the love of God, pay attention. We all have families. I've been doing this for 10 years and I've been hit more times than I want to talk about."
The tow truck driver fractured her ribs and broke some other bones. She is now out of the hospital.
She didn't want to talk with FOX25 Monday, but did say she's still very upset with what happened.