Beloved tow truck driver killed by drunk driver in Queens, NYC

A beloved and popular truck driver died and his customer suffered serious personal injury in a multiple vehicle crash caused by a drunk driver on the Long Island Expressway in Queens.

The accident occurred last Saturday night around 3:30 am. 47 year old Carlos Santiago (Campy), a tow truck driver working for Knights Towing and the father of 3 children, was sent on a call to help a stranded driver in a Nissan on the Long Island Expressway near exit 19 in Elmhurst, Queens.

Drunk driver responsible for chain collision that ended killing Campy and seriously injuring his customer

Carlos was working on preparing the Nissan to get towed on the right shoulder of the Long Island Expressway while the 27 year old driver was standing nearby.  At the same time, 28 year old Denzel Porter who was allegedly  drunk behind the wheel of his Dodge Durango, lost control of his vehicle and hit a Volkswagen SUV that careened into Santiago who was standing next to his truck. The Durango spun out of control and ended crashing into the Nissan which slammed into its owner who was standing next to it.

Carlos Santiago and his customer were rushed to the hospital but Carlos’ injuries were so bad that he did not survive.  His customer survived but was seriously injured.

Denzel was brought into custody and is facing the following charges: DWAI alcohol, criminally negligent homicide and  vehicular manslaughter.

Tow truck drivers want justice for their beloved colleague

Carlos had been working for 30 years as a tow truck driver . His colleagues loved him and everybody knew him as “Campy”. After his death, a caravan of tow truck drivers first went to pay respect to their colleague at the location of the crash and then headed to the Court House for the arraignment of Denzel Porter to ask justice for Campy.

Read more in CBS News  the NY Daily News and in the New York Post