US Supreme Court rules in NH towing Company

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled generally that federal trucking laws do not per-empt a state claim against a New Hampshire towing company

The court ruled Monday in a Manchester case connecting Robert Pelkey, who lived at an apartment building complex in 2007 when he had to go a hospital for pollution and suffered a heart attack. He used a handicapped parking spot, and left his car parked there while he was hospitalized.

The car was towed by Danes City Auto Body when it was not moved during a winter parking ban and then sat in the towing business lot for 2 months. The shop supposed it was abandoned. It finally took ownership of the car and traded it.

Pelkey sued Danes City Auto Body under the Consumer defense Act. The case finished up in the New Hampshire Supreme Court, which upturned a superior court finding and ruled in his favor.

The lawyer for the tow company appealed, citing central trucking laws that were passed in the 1980s to unify trucking and tow system among all the states.

Vehicle struck tow truck driver, fled -police said

A tow truck driver was loading a vehicle when he was struck by a passing vehicle that then fled the area just before Sunday, Salem Police said.

The Affordable Towing driver was wearing his orange security vest and was displaying tow truck flashers and emergency lights on the far right eastbound lanes of Mission Street SE when the event occurred, police reported.

The tow truck driver was facing the Tow Truck Services and working the lifting tools when he was struck on his right side. He was knocked down but able to get out of the roadway.

The vehicle that hit the driver accelerates away from the scene Medics took the driver to Salem Hospital where he was treated for non-life threatening injuries.

The vehicle that fled was described as a dark colored sedan. Its right side passenger mirror purportedly broke off when it hit the tow truck driver and was recovered at the scene of the crash. 

The vehicle possible sustained scrapes and scratch and possible body damage on the right passenger side.