Tow Truck Driver Mistakenly Tows Vehicle With Child Inside

SAN ANTONIO, TX – Authorities say a tow truck driver mistakenly towed away a vehicle from a San Antonio apartment complex with a 5-year-old girl inside on Monday, September 10, 2024. 

The girl's mother, who is nine months pregnant, reported that the tow truck driver arrived abruptly and towed her car, which had its hazard lights on. The mother had briefly left the vehicle to visit a neighbor, according to the San Antonio Police Department. 

The police stated the mother rode with a bystander who had seen the truck leave and began trailing the tow truck driver. However, due to a medical emergency, they had to stop at an H-E-B parking lot. 

The towing company was eventually notified, and the driver returned the unharmed child to the apartment complex. 

Trinity Towing, the company involved, stated that the vehicle did not appear to be occupied when it was towed.

“We later learned a little girl was asleep on the floorboard when we first towed the vehicle and was not visible to the driver,” Trinity Towing said in a statement.

According to authorities, the driver returned the child to the apartment complex but left before speaking with officers. 

The driver is being investigated for child endangerment, as detailed in a police report. 

Trinity Towing expressed relief that the incident did not result in any harm to the child in the statement below:

"Today, around 11:30 a.m., we were dispatched to tow a vehicle parked in a fire lane. The car was locked, with the ignition off, and there were no signs of anyone inside or around the vehicle." 

"We later learned a little girl was asleep on the floorboard when we first towed the vehicle and was not visible to the driver. As the tow truck arrived at our storage yard just a few minutes later, we were informed that a child had been left in the car."

"Our driver managed to get the little girl to unlock the door. While our driver followed all necessary protocols, the situation could have been much more serious. We are relieved that the little girl is safe and unharmed this evening."

— Trinity Towing