John "Jack" Carpenter was struck and killed while helping a stranded driver on state Route 104 last month.
On Thursday, tow truck drivers held a procession from the funeral home in Worthington to the cemetery off Sunbury Road in Columbus.
Some of the tow truck drivers handed out hats as people arrived at the funeral. They all said "Slow Down, Move Over, It's the Law." They say in addition to saying goodbye to their friend, they wanted to spread an important message.
Tow truck drivers say they have a passion for the job, and when they get the call, they just go.
The call on Thursday was for help saying good-bye to one of their own.
“He's going to be missed. Any of us, it's like we're brothers and sisters. We're here for the same reason,” said Anne Norris, Allied Towing.
Carpenter was loading a stranded car onto a wrecker when he was struck by another driver, Brian Spencer. Police say Spencer never moved over from the right lane.
“There is nothing you can do, but hope and pray that when you are out there on the road that somebody won’t get you,” said George Payne, Johnson’s Towing.
Payne says there is something other drivers can do. The drivers wanted to spread the message as they supported Carpenter’s family.
“They have stood by our family and we greatly appreciate it, but most of all, if we could have people acknowledge, slow down and move over, it could save a life,” said Carol Sue Campbell, Carpenter’s sister.
The tow trucks followed the funeral procession, with lights flashing behind Carpenter's hearse.
It was a symbol of their love for a friend, and a hope that when drivers see the lights on the side of the road, they'll move over.
“We do our part and I guess everyone else's part would be to look, slow down a little bit, if you can get over, get over, and if you can't slow down so that we don't get hit,” added Payne.