On September 24, 2010, Tow Truck Driver William “Tony” Padilla was struck and killed by an impaired motorist while hooking a vehicle up to his tow truck on Interstate 5 near Spokane Street. Padilla was working for GT Towing in Seattle when he was killed.

Padilla was a Burien resident.

In recognition of the value tow operators bring to driver and responder safety plus keeping drivers moving, the Washington Traffic Incident Management Coalition honored Padilla in a ceremony during its annual 2011 Traffic Incident Management Conference. As part of the honor, Padilla’s name has been added to the Circle of Honor Memorial Plaque that recognizes other Washington State transportation or public safety employees who have lost their lives while doing their jobs.

In the ceremony today there was a hat or helmet from law enforcement, emergency medical services, fire department, WSDOT and Tony Padilla’s helmet and vest which were placed on a table that was set for one. The table was draped in a white table cloth, portraying innocence, there was one red rose placed in a vase with a black ribbon, indicating he would not return, and there was a place setting for one with an overturned glass, indicating that he would not be toasting with us today. The table remained for the duration of the day.

The Washington Traffic Incident Coalition is made up of representatives from Washington State Department of Transportation, Washington State Patrol, Fire & Emergency Medical Services, and others who work together to create innovative ways for safe and efficient management of incidents and develop training that encourages and enables the development of local response plans.