Professor Killed While Trying To Prevent His Car From Being Towed

Elias Konwufine, dean of the Business school at Keiser University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida was killed in an unfortunate towing incident this past Friday. Konwufine was trying to prevent his car from being towed at the time of the incident and ended up being run over by his own car. Konwufine was trying to prevent his car from being towed from outside his home in Lauderhill, west of Fort Lauderdale.

The tow truck driver, who only provided the first name Ken as identification, recounted the details of the situation, saying that Konwufine, “jumped on the running board and held onto my handle of the tow truck, and he started beating on the window to get in to stop me. When I turned around, I saw him get back off the truck.” The tow truck driver did not stop the car and Konwufine was run over when he fell off the tow truck. Police rushed him to the hospital but he died from his injuries shortly thereafter.

The tow truck driver, Ken, said he was saddened and upset by the incident saying he has been towing for over 15 years and that what happened was tragic, but he was just doing his job as the homeowners association, which contracts with his company Superior Roadside Assistance, told him to do by towing the vehicle. “You do what you got to do and tow the cars. It ain’t about money. I’m not out to hurt nobody,” he said.

An unfortunate towing incident in Fort Lauderdale results in a professor’s death.

Now, friends and family from the community have participated in a march on the police station to demand a rigorous and thorough investigation and justice for Konwufine.

The situation is certainly tragic and it is important that towing companies and their employees realize just how dangerous it is to operate a moving tow truck when there is another individual attempting to stop the tow. Even if the towing is completely legitimate and legal, the first concern should be for the safety of both the tow truck driver and any other individuals who are in the vicinity. Jumping onto a tow truck as Konwufine did is a dangerous and foolish stunt, but the towing operator should always immediately stop the vehicle in order to ensure the safety of the person in an incident like this regardless.

(photo by Felixe via Flickr)