Tow truck drivers honor driver killed on the job

HOLIDAY (FOX 13) - Close family held a private memorial Saturday for a tow truck operator killed on the job.

But Danny Hand’s extended family held a moving memorial on the streets of Holiday to honor their fallen friend.

Last Sunday morning, 42-year-old Danny Hand was helping a driver who'd broken down on the side of Interstate 275 South, near Fowler Avenue.

Florida State troopers say Leandro Perez struck and killed him. Investigators say Perez was driving under the influence at the time.

Today, dozens of drivers from Crockett's towing rolled down I-275 to pay their respects to hand. They say Hand was a hard worker, and was dedicated to professionalism and safety.

 “Danny was an awesome individual. Awesome individual,” Michael Studley of Crocketts Towing said. “The fact that my friend is no longer here over someone's delinquence of drinking and driving, that knew they shouldn't have been driving, and the fact that he is gone is hard, not only on me but everyone in the company. Because we were all friends with him.”

After the ride, people gathered for a memorial service at Anclote River Park in Holiday.

The drivers are now asking to have road rangers present during every towing operation on the interstate for extra safety.