Texas and fast help?
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Joined: Dec 2003
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From: On the road in Ohio
Texas and fast help?
I found this on another forum, interesting to what lenghts some will go to expand their buisnesses...
Wrecks were waiting to happen on I-35
Web Posted: 01/06/2005 12:00 AM CST
Jeorge Zarazua
San Antonio Express-News
Austin lawyer Monte F. James was attempting to pass a truck on Interstate 35 near Cotulla when he spotted a large metal object in the middle of the road.
"I saw it at the last second and didn't have time to move," James said, recalling his blowout in late October.
Luckily for him, a tow truck driver was tapping on his window within minutes, offering to help.
LaSalle County Sheriff Robbie Thomas said the scenario is one that played over and over this fall on the isolated stretches of the interstate in South Texas as part of a wrecker service scam.
The sheriff said driver Bill Gierisch and his assistant, 40-year-old Shane Holloway, are accused of placing large pieces of debris on I-35 to generate business from stranded motorists. The two suspects are free on bond after their December arrests on felony criminal mischief charges.
No one was injured in the incidents, Thomas said.
"We're just fortunate that a bus or an 18-wheeler didn't hit anything," he said.
Investigators arrested Gierisch, 36, and Holloway on Dec. 15 after questioning them about an unusual surge to their business coming from the interstate.
Both suspects are employees of Bill's Garage, which Gierisch's father owns in Cotulla. Bill Gierisch Sr. has not been implicated in any wrongdoing.
Gierisch's other son, Fred, denied Wednesday his brother and Holloway were to blame for the wrecks and accused the sheriff of coercing statements from the men.
But Thomas said both suspects gave statements saying they would venture out in the middle of the night to place large pieces of automotive equipment in the road and then wait for a vehicle to strike it, before driving up to the scene to offer their services.
He said deputies recovered drive shafts and alternators among other items as evidence.
At least 12 vehicles fell victim, the sheriff said.
"They would show up within minutes and tow the disabled vehicles back to Cotulla," he said.
Thomas said the victims initially would be thrilled a wrecker service would come to their aid so fast, but grew upset once they learned authorities were investigating the individuals in connection with the incidents.
"If they were doing that, I think they need to go to prison," James said. "They could have killed somebody. It's incomprehensible that they would be doing this for a couple of hundred dollars."
James said his wreck on I-35 caused blowouts to both the front tires of his 2004 Chevrolet plus other damage. The total bill for his mishap: $2,000.
The sheriff said deputies became suspicious of the scheme when they noticed Gierisch was frequently towing vehicles to Bill's Garage although no stranded motorists had called 911 for help.
He said an investigation was launched with the help of the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation office in Laredo.
Thomas said investigators interviewed 12 motorists whom Gierisch helped and learned that they all had car problems after striking debris on the interstate.
"The fortunate thing is that nobody got killed or injured," he said.
The two men have been taken off the Sheriff's Departments list of tow truck drivers that can be called to help stranded motorists.
Wrecks were waiting to happen on I-35
Web Posted: 01/06/2005 12:00 AM CST
Jeorge Zarazua
San Antonio Express-News
Austin lawyer Monte F. James was attempting to pass a truck on Interstate 35 near Cotulla when he spotted a large metal object in the middle of the road.
"I saw it at the last second and didn't have time to move," James said, recalling his blowout in late October.
Luckily for him, a tow truck driver was tapping on his window within minutes, offering to help.
LaSalle County Sheriff Robbie Thomas said the scenario is one that played over and over this fall on the isolated stretches of the interstate in South Texas as part of a wrecker service scam.
The sheriff said driver Bill Gierisch and his assistant, 40-year-old Shane Holloway, are accused of placing large pieces of debris on I-35 to generate business from stranded motorists. The two suspects are free on bond after their December arrests on felony criminal mischief charges.
No one was injured in the incidents, Thomas said.
"We're just fortunate that a bus or an 18-wheeler didn't hit anything," he said.
Investigators arrested Gierisch, 36, and Holloway on Dec. 15 after questioning them about an unusual surge to their business coming from the interstate.
Both suspects are employees of Bill's Garage, which Gierisch's father owns in Cotulla. Bill Gierisch Sr. has not been implicated in any wrongdoing.
Gierisch's other son, Fred, denied Wednesday his brother and Holloway were to blame for the wrecks and accused the sheriff of coercing statements from the men.
But Thomas said both suspects gave statements saying they would venture out in the middle of the night to place large pieces of automotive equipment in the road and then wait for a vehicle to strike it, before driving up to the scene to offer their services.
He said deputies recovered drive shafts and alternators among other items as evidence.
At least 12 vehicles fell victim, the sheriff said.
"They would show up within minutes and tow the disabled vehicles back to Cotulla," he said.
Thomas said the victims initially would be thrilled a wrecker service would come to their aid so fast, but grew upset once they learned authorities were investigating the individuals in connection with the incidents.
"If they were doing that, I think they need to go to prison," James said. "They could have killed somebody. It's incomprehensible that they would be doing this for a couple of hundred dollars."
James said his wreck on I-35 caused blowouts to both the front tires of his 2004 Chevrolet plus other damage. The total bill for his mishap: $2,000.
The sheriff said deputies became suspicious of the scheme when they noticed Gierisch was frequently towing vehicles to Bill's Garage although no stranded motorists had called 911 for help.
He said an investigation was launched with the help of the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation office in Laredo.
Thomas said investigators interviewed 12 motorists whom Gierisch helped and learned that they all had car problems after striking debris on the interstate.
"The fortunate thing is that nobody got killed or injured," he said.
The two men have been taken off the Sheriff's Departments list of tow truck drivers that can be called to help stranded motorists.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,978
Likes: 1
From: Alvin, Texas.
Thank goodness I have AAA and got my cellphone in the mail yesterday before I got back home.....I would have waited the hour or two for a tow truck since I pay $80 for that card!
As for the similar scam going on in Houston with drivers not being able to pony up towing fees and eventually impound fees......
As for the similar scam going on in Houston with drivers not being able to pony up towing fees and eventually impound fees......
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