Sixty four year old tow truck driver, Douglas Edinger, is lucky to be alive after being struck by a vehicle while doing his job. Edinger, who has worked for Calvin's Wrecker, of Bristow, for seven years, was changing a flat tire for an AAA customer on Thursday, June 1, along the Turner Turnpike near Kellyville when he was struck by a vehicle. According to reports, the driver of the vehicle that struck Edinger was an OSBI employee, who was driving a marked work vehicle. The employee is now on administrative leave until the incident has been fully investigated.
Even though Edinger did everything necessary and responsibily, like wearing his safety vest, hazard lights were on and the tow truck was parked at least five feet from the white line, the accident still occurred. That is was it is so important for drivers to be aware of their surroundings at all times. If you see any type of emergency vehicle, police, fire, ambulance, or something as simple as some one changing a tire or broke down along side of the road, use extra caution and move to the outside lane to help prevent this type of accident from happening. Edinger has been in intensive care, on a ventilator since the accident, with several broken bones and a cracked skull.
A second incident occurred on Saturday, June 3, around four in the afternoon about two miles south of Bristow. The incident is still under investigation so not a lot of details have been released. A 50 year old pilot, Clinton Brian, of Tulsa, was flying a 1948 Fixed Wing Temco aircraft when it crashed. The FAA/NTSB is investigating the crash.