Freetown, MA — November 21, 2025, Manuel Andrade was killed in a tow truck accident at about 6 p.m. on State Route 140.
Authorities said a tow truck was heading south when it was hit by another vehicle, forcing it off an overpass onto Washburn Road. The truck caught fire after the crash.
Tow truck driver Manuel Andrade, 52, died from injuries suffered in the crash, according to authorities.
The other driver was not injured, authorities said.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the Bristol County crash at this time.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When someone reads that a tow truck veered off an overpass and caught fire, the first question that comes to mind isn’t just “how did this happen?” It’s “how does something like this even begin to happen?” According to reports, a southbound tow truck was hit by another vehicle, which forced it off the overpass and onto Washburn Road below, where it caught fire. The tow truck driver died from his injuries, and authorities say the other driver was not hurt.
That’s a startling sequence of events, but it’s also frustratingly light on details. For example, how did the other vehicle make contact with the tow truck? Was it a sideswipe, a rear-end or something else entirely? It’s not clear whether the vehicles were changing lanes, whether someone veered out of their lane or if another factor entirely — like speed, distraction or weather — played a role. Each of those scenarios would raise different questions about responsibility.
That kind of ambiguity is exactly why any serious investigation into this crash needs to go far beyond a surface-level report. It should start with gathering hard evidence: dash cam footage, electronic control module (ECM) data, GPS records and phone logs. That’s how we determine whether the driver who hit the tow truck was distracted, speeding or making an unsafe maneuver. It’s also how we verify whether the tow truck was already in a vulnerable position; for example, slowing down for a hazard or pulled over on the shoulder.
Depending on whether the tow truck was moving or stopped at the time of impact, entirely different liability issues could come into play. If it was stopped, for instance, that might suggest the second driver failed to maintain a proper lookout or couldn’t control their vehicle. If the tow truck was in motion, we’d want to know if it was changing lanes, merging or even trying to avoid something itself.
One thing is certain: the fire that followed the crash shows how high-stakes even a single bad decision on the road can be. But it’s not enough to say that a crash happened and someone died. The real question is: who made the decision, or failed to make one, that set this chain of events in motion?
Key Takeaways:
- It’s not yet clear how the other vehicle came to hit the tow truck or what exactly caused it to go over the side of the overpass.
- Vital information — such as whether the tow truck was moving or stopped — has not been released, leaving major questions about responsibility.
- Evidence like dash cams, black box data and phone records will be crucial to understanding what happened.
- A proper investigation will focus on actions by both drivers and any relevant mechanical or environmental factors.
- Only after gathering all the facts can we determine who is truly accountable for the events that led to this fatal crash.
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