At the beginning of the day, the tow truck is prepped and ready for the long day ahead. This recovery vehicle will be used to clean up freeway accidents. Before responding to any calls, the driver ensures the vehicle is operating properly.
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This photo essay provides an in-depth look at a tow truck driver responding to roadside emergencies during his shift. According to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, there were more than 98,000 crashes in Miami-Dade and Broward counties in 2024. While the driver remains unphotographed for privacy reasons, these images show how he works tirelessly to keep roads safe and cars moving.
The first call of the day is a crash involving three cars on the Palmetto Expressway. The damaged cars sit as first responders clear debris and direct oncoming traffic. The tow truck driver is present to remove the mangled cars from the highway. Another call comes in later in the day for a car stranded on the side of the Florida Turnpike. The tow truck driver investigates the severity of the car accident while the driver stands close to the car to survey the wreckage.The mangled car sits on the side of the Florida Turnpike before the driver transports the car to a location requested by the owner. Debris and broken car pieces are seen scattered throughout the area following the crash.As the day continues, the tow truck driver is sent to another accident involving a run-off road crash on the Dolphin Expressway. A man stands beside the car, safe and unharmed after being rear-ended. The trooper evaluates the accident as the tow truck driver is ready to hoist the car onto the flatbed. Later in the day, the tow truck driver is sitting in the driver seat looking over at a rollover crash just between Broward County and Miami-Dade County on I-75. He assesses the overturned car resting on its crushed roof. With careful planning, the driver prepares to recover the car safely. In the evening, the tow truck driver arrives at the scene of a run-off road crash where a white van crashed head first into a telephone pole. The driver is preparing to strap the vehicle onto the flatbed to recover the damaged vehicle. Due to telephone lines scattered, caution and precision are required to safely tow this vehicle. The tow truck driver was able to remove the car as a result of a run-off crash. The front of the car is crushed from the high-speed impact and the front windows are shattered. With a final check, the driver secures the load before leaving. As the sun sets and the street lights begin to turn on, the driver secures a wrecked car onto the flatbed of the truck. The vehicle crashed due to heavy rain caused by reduced visibility and slippery roads. The Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles recommends to turn lights and wipers on, slow down, and be cautious of high winds when driving through severe weather. The last call of the day is a head-on crash at high speed where one car ended up on top of the other. The tow truck driver carefully strategizes the recovery alongside the help of officers to separate the mangled metal properly. At the final job of the night, this accident highlights how quickly disaster can strike on the road.
Brianna Mantaras is a junior majoring in Digital Journalism. After graduating, she wishes to pursue a career in the entertainment field to inform communities about the local news.
Daniel Barban is a sophomore at Florida International University who is interested in the intersection of music and media.Barban is passionate about storytelling and editing entertainment content, specifically on social media. He aspires to be an independent artist or producer with a multitude of different skill sets.Barban will graduate from the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media with a bachelor’s degree in digital communication & media with a certificate in music business in Fall 2027.
Zaneta Brennan is a senior at Florida International University who is passionate about the film industry. Brennan has worked on projects about challenges young teens face. Brennan has also worked with Mr. Vegas, a Jamaican singer, where she played a role in his music video. Her longtime goal is to become an actress one day. Brennan will graduate from the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media with a bachelor’s degree in digital communication & media in Spring 2026.
Marcela Mattana is a junior at Florida International University who is passionate about film. Mattana has experience as a production assistant and script supervisor for independent film projects. Working on set has helped her explore different roles like coordinating logistics. She hopes to make stories come to life on screen and make an impact in filmmaking. Mattana will graduate from the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media with a bachelor’s degree in digital communication & media in Spring 2026.
