SAGINAW TWP, MI -- A lone tow truck, with its diesel engine idling and orange lights flashing, sat at the entrance of a Saginaw Township funeral home, greeting car upon car.
Those who passed its lights, from friends and family to fellow drivers who traveled almost 100 miles, came to pay their respects to the man who formerly sat behind the wheel, 41-year-old Thomas Tripp.
"We might have different names on the side of our trucks, but we're all family," said Rob Fuller of Roseville-based Van's Towing and Transport. "It's a brotherhood."
Tripp, who worked for nearly 15 years at Mike's Wrecker Service in Saginaw, was killed on the job Wednesday night by an alleged drunk driver.
His coworkers were able to attend his visitation and service Saturday evening, Jan. 13, at Deisler Funeral Home because the family that Fuller spoke about is more than just in name.
"Our office is staffed right now by towers from across the state," said Bill Giorgis, president of Mike's Wrecker Service. "There's guys from Grand Rapids, Detroit, Warren, Sterling Heights taking calls for us."
The vehicles of visitors, from wreckers to cars and trucks, packed the Deisler Funeral Home parking lot and spilled over into adjoining streets.
During Tripp's service, attendees filled the funeral home's 200 seats and it was standing room only, said Giorgis.
"It's a testament to the brotherhood we have as towers, but it's also a testament to the kind of guy Tommy was," Giorgis said. "He was just a phenomenal human being."
Ian Wenger, a patrol officer with the Saginaw Police Department, attended Tripp's visitation. He knew Tripp from his time working crashes.
"Any time you'd call them, you'd always hope it was him that showed up," Wenger said. "He was always friendly, happy. It just sucks knowing I'll call and he won't be there."
Customers -- people Tripp helped while on the job -- also showed up to pay their respects. One woman in attendance, Giorgis said, found out about Tripp's death because he had given her his cellphone number in case she was ever in trouble.
The elderly woman had called him Wednesday night to ask for help with a flat tire, Giorgis said. He didn't respond, and then she called the tow service.
"That's how she found out he had gotten killed," Giorgis said.
Saginaw County Sheriff's Office Lt. Mike Gomez previously said tow truck drivers put their lives on the line just like other first responders.
"Those guys are putting their lives at risk just like us because people look at lights and want to see the crash and while they are trying to see the crash they are not looking at the person who is trying to clear the scene," Gomez said.
Fuller said any time he takes a call on an expressway, he calls his wife before he loads the vehicle and after so she knows he's OK.
Fuller was struck once by a passerby. The injuries, luckily, were only bruised ribs and a torn-up shoulder, he said.
When asked what everyday people should know about tow truck drivers, Fuller responded: "Just move over, please. Give us room."