Huck Hit on Highway

• General News
• 16th May 2014

Your life can be turned upside down in a split second just ask tilt tray towing operator Huck Leat.

Huck and his wife Dianne had begun 2014 with an optimistic outlook. They were starting to get on top of things.

Then on January 20th Huck got a call to pick up a broken down Kia Optiva on Roe Highway just North of the Kenwick Link.

Nothing out of the normal, Huck had safely carried out similar pick-ups dozens of time.

He's also been in transport from an early age having driven trucks - including road-trains - for firms such as Centurion, Mitchells, Patience and B&L. Safety comes first on the road is his motto.

On this occasion the customers vehicle was parked about 40 metres from the end of the on-ramp. Huck was fully aware that he was operating in a dangerous location.

He carefully backed up to the vehicle with all his hazard lights flashing. A few metres from the Kia he tilted the tray up and got out of the truck.

He then decided to move the car a metre towards the truck about a foot forward before connecting the winch line and pulling it onto the back of the truck.

Standard procedure - and Huck estimates the Kia was parked about a metre inside the fog line.

When he opened the front driver’s side door to move the vehicle he didn't open it wide. Huck is a slim bloke and he kept the door as close to the vehicles body as possible.

But disaster struck despite his caution!

A truck heading in the same direction smashed into Huck and the door sending it flying off its hinges.

'Huck swears it must have veered into him because he was well inside the fog-line.

He suffered a broken hip and a badly smashed right hand with broken fingers, knuckles and bones in his upper hand.

The pain at the time of the incident was excruciating and still is. He's been in and out of hospital and is now on crutches.

Unfortunately, he has no choice. He wants nothing more than to get back to work and begin earning a living again but that will be impossible for months to come.

His case is in the hands of the lawyers who are chasing compensation for his loss of income, medical costs and pain and suffering. And there has been a lot of the latter.

He believes our laws need to change so tow trucks can be fitted with red and blue flashing lights.

He argues that there are too many types of vehicles with orange lights and they do not adequately alert motorists, because people confuse them with road workers or mine vehicles. Especially during daylight hours!

We agree with Huck. At present tow truck drivers are often put in dangerous situations where they are sitting ducks.

Huck was knocked over despite taking all possible precautions and he now suffers the consequences. Perhaps red and blue lights would have prevented the incident that put him out of action.

Witnesses Sought:

Huck is keen to talk with any witnesses to the incident described above. If you can help please call Huck on 0413 003 245 or the TWU 9328 74 77