Tow truck driver on duty struck, killed by semitruck driver watching YouTube, police say

BATH COUNTY, Ky. (WKYT/Gray News) – A truck driver is facing charges after Kentucky state troopers say he struck and killed a tow truck driver while watching YouTube on a tablet.

The crash happened on Interstate 64 in Bath County early Wednesday evening.

Kentucky State Police said 54-year-old Troy Caldwell, a tow truck driver, was loading up a vehicle onto a rollback when he was struck by a semitruck traveling westbound.

Caldwell was pronounced dead at the scene.

Troopers arrested the driver of the semitruck, 29-year-old Shodmon Yuldashev from Brooklyn, New York.

According to his arrest citation, officers found a tablet on Yuldashev’s dashboard. Police believe he was actively watching YouTube videos at the time of the crash.

Police also said Yuldashev tried to power off the tablet and hide it during the inspection.

Yuldashev is charged with tampering with physical evidence.

Caldwell’s loved ones remember him as a man who was always there for others.

“He was just a really upstanding guy, he loved what he did,” said Bubba Johnson, a fellow tow truck driver.

Johnson said he has known Caldwell for years and said he was someone people in the tow truck industry could count on to do the right thing.

“He was ‘Mr. Safety,’ I mean, he was always double checking and re-checking, always decked out in fluorescent gear, I mean, he was the one you’d want to be the front man for your safety meeting,” Johnson said.

“Troy’s just a nice guy, always willing to do anything that you asked him to do,” said Morehead Police Chief Derrick Blevins. “He’d go above and beyond on accident scenes, so it’s a tough loss for everybody.”

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