The Very Trivial Reason a Tow Truck Driver Was Shot by the Very People He Was Trying to Help

A Fort Worth, Texas, tow truck driver helping a group of intoxicated men with car trouble in the early morning hours of New Year's day ended up getting shot by one of them. And the reason isn't one you've probably heard a lot.

According to WFAA-TV, three men were stranded on a freeway and called for a tow truck before 4:45 a.m. Jan. 1. Fort Worth police spokesperson Sharron Neal said the men were intoxicated.

A Fort Worth tow truck driver shot while trying to help a stranded group on men. (Image source: KTVT-TV)

An argument started when the driver, who KTVT-TV identified as 53-year-old Joel Omiya, informed the men only one of them could sit in the tow truck cab with him. One of the men, later identified as 26-year-old Shane Crowson, became upset by this news and shot the Omiya.

Watch KTVT's report:

It is unclear who called the police after the incident, but authorities took Omiya to the hospital and found two of the three men in the group walking alongside the road.

The men were investigated, and Crowson was charged with aggravated assault, according to WFAA.

Shane Crowson was arrested and charge with aggravated assault in the incident. (Image source: KTVT-TV)

KXAS-TV reported that Omiya saved his life because he correctly applied pressure to the gunshot wound. Police said he was in critical condition but is stable now and is expected to survive.

"When the wrecker driver arrived on the scene he advised them of the arrangements, that he could only transport one in the cab in the truck," police spokeswoman Neal said, according to KXAS. "But they all wanted to ride inside of the vehicle as it was being towed and he advised them that he couldn't do it.  It's not safe and it's against the law and they were all intoxicated, alcohol did play a role it did play a part in it."

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