Tow truck driver killed on I-255 remembered for his dedication and service to community
The tow truck driver fatally struck on Interstate 255 is being remembered for decades of service to his community.
Wade R. Bivins, 57, of East Carondelet died Wednesday when he was hit by a passing vehicle while he was working to remove a broken down vehicle at milepost 6 near Columbia in Monroe County, authorities said.
“He was just a great guy, always happy,” said East Carondelet Mayor Herb Simmons, who has known Bivins for about 40 years.
Simmons, who also is the director of the St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency, praised Bivins for his countless hours of service to the East Carondelet community.
Bivins would work in the kitchen of the town’s community center for its annual fish fry. Simmons fondly recalled how he would radio to Bivins to see how busy things were.
Bivins would tell Simmons, “Keep on fishing!” which meant to keep frying fish.
Simmons said Bivins also served as a volunteer firefighter on the Prairie Du Pont Fire Department since 1984, served on the board of the Prairie Du Pont Water District and helped with emergency preparedness for any flooding in town.
Simmons said Bivins didn’t just respond to requests for help from the mayor’s office.
“If any of the other residents in town would ask him to do anything, he’d always say, ‘Yep, I’ll put you on a list and I’ll get it done.’ And he sure would,” Simmons said.
Bivins previously worked for the Ingram Barge Co. in East Carondelet, Simmons said, and was an emergency coordinator for the barge operators. A retired manager from the company called Simmons Thursday to talk about how “well liked” Bivins was at the company.
“If somebody got sick while they were out on the river or got hurt, they could always count on Wade to stabilize them until they got to land and got the ambulance,” said Simmons, who noted that Bivins’ family asked him to speak about Bivins on their behalf.
Simmons once ran a tow truck company and he said he always enjoyed talking to Bivins about how the nice the modern day flatbed tow trucks are compared to the trucks Simmons drove.
Niki O’Bryan, the manager of Paw Paw Towing, said Bivins had worked for the company since April as the lead tow truck operator.
“Wade was a great guy,” O’Bryan said. “He was always very calm, never really got upset.
“He was always willing to help, no matter what the call demanded,” she said. “He was a people pleaser. He was always looking to help somebody else.”
In the wake of Bivins’ death, O’Bryan has this message for motorists:
“We’re just trying to bring awareness for everyone to move over and slow down for emergency vehicles on the highway,” she said.
Funeral arrangements
Bivins’ survivors include his wife of 35 years, Paula Bivins, three daughters, and three grandchildren.
“Wade loved hunting and going on trips with his wife,” his obituary states. “His favorite was spoiling his grandkids. He enjoyed picking on family members and having a drink with friends and family.”
Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Leesman Funeral Home in Dupo with a time of remembrance at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
