A recent collision in Uptown Whittier has sparked public backlash over the incompetence of Whittier’s Hadley Tow and its drivers. On the night of April 9, a tow truck affiliated with Hadley Tow crashed into five parked cars while driving down the street. No injuries were reported, but the driver appeared to stumble out of the truck after damaging a fire hydrant. Recent footage on social media shows the driver, who has not been identified, having difficulty completing a sobriety test conducted by Whittier Police. The videos have sparked buzz on social media within the local communities, which began sharing their experiences with the company.
The conversation has expanded to platforms like Facebook, Reddit, TikTok, and Instagram. While some comments on customer experiences were great, other residents had concerns about the company drivers’ public safety. “Those drivers are always speeding down residential streets. They are dangerous,” resident Albert Vazquez adds to the online discourse. Residents have experienced dangerous traffic maneuvers by their drivers, including speeding, driving aggressively, and even disobeying traffic signals. Driver Andrea witnessed a Prius belonging to the company that “took a red light and didn’t even stop at the stop sign.” Hadley Tow recognizes its social responsibility on the homepage of its website and requires its drivers to gain “extensive training on driving safety and how to operate in public in a safe manner that protects the customers we are serving.”
Other drivers shared their experiences with how business is being conducted with their vehicles. Hadley Tow customer Genevie accuses the company of “stealing” her car by moving it to another repair shop without authorization or notification. “They damaged my truck while towing and then refused to fix it,” customer Scott Baxter shared. While no pictures or proof were shared to solidify these claims, Whittier’s police chief spoke to the city council in the past, hoping not to renew the company’s contract. Then police chief, Jeff Pipper, had serious concerns over the company’s conduct and brought his concerns to the city council. The council decided to renew the contract despite Pipper’s worries about the company’s failure to maintain collision evidence, intimidation towards customers, and rival tow companies.
Hadley Tow released a public relations announcement regarding the incident in an attempt to clarify the situation: “We want to clear this up because accusations of driving under the influence are unwarranted at this time. Our driver had no alcohol in his system. Our company is fully compliant with any investigative proceeding and is supporting law enforcement in this matter while working with everyone involved.” Hadley Tow urges the public not to share “unsubstantiated rumors” pending investigation. The driver was released at the scene and has not been placed under arrest at this time.