Waco, TX – Tow truck drivers from across Central Texas gathered at the Killeen Mall this past Saturday to honor their fallen colleague, David Holz, who was tragically killed in a hit-and-run accident early Friday morning in Salado. The emotional tribute quickly turned to chaos when an unrelated incident unfolded before their eyes, sending shockwaves through the group.
Holz, a beloved employee of Unlimited Towing, was the focus of the tribute, with nearly every local tow company in the area coming together to pay their respects. Travis Shumate, a manager at Unlimited Towing, expressed the deep sense of loss felt by his team. “Just about every local tow company in our area was there to show their support and love for David and his family,” Shumate shared.
The drivers were gathered in the parking lot of the Killeen Mall, preparing to line up their trucks for a “light up” ceremony at 6 p.m., when the atmosphere took a sudden and disturbing turn. Anthony Stephens, a tow truck driver from Tow King in Waco, recalled the unsettling moment. “We were kind of chit-chatting just waiting till about 6 o’clock, when we were doing the light-up… and next thing you know we hear cop cars,” Stephens said.
A man, fleeing from law enforcement, drove his truck off the highway and into the mall parking lot. Without warning, the vehicle barreled toward the building, crashing straight through the entrance of the JC Penney store. The impact sent five people to the hospital, adding to the already tense atmosphere.
Stephens, who was present at the scene and seen in a video of the incident, described how the truck plowed into the store’s entrance. “Once he went through the building, state troopers and everybody else, they got out of their vehicles and started running in,” Stephens said. “You saw other people start running out, you heard the officers yelling ‘everybody get out, everybody get out.’”
In response, Shumate quickly directed the tow truck drivers to move to a safer area of the mall, urging them to remain out of the way of the unfolding emergency. “That’s when we relocated to the other side of the mall just to stay out of everybody’s way and still give our tribute to David,” Shumate explained.
Despite the terrifying incident, the drivers found solace in completing their tribute to Holz. “Told everybody every light on your truck that flashes, let’s turn them on and make sure David sees it from heaven,” Shumate shared. The trucks lit up in a moving display of solidarity, and the sound of horns honking filled the air. “Everything came on, the horns started honking… it was a moving time,” Shumate added.
For many, the traumatic events that unfolded served as a stark reminder of how quickly life can change. Stephens reflected on the emotional toll the incident took on those present. “It definitely brought back feelings for a lot of people, I guarantee you it did,” he said. “It’s the worst thing in the world, it really is. Now you never know when you’re coming home at night because you got people out in the world that just don’t care.”
As of now, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has located the vehicle involved in Holz’s hit-and-run death, and the suspect has been identified. However, authorities have not yet released the suspect’s name as the investigation is still ongoing and a warrant remains pending.
The tribute to David Holz, although marred by the chaos of the mall incident, demonstrated the strength and unity of the local towing community in the face of unexpected tragedy.
