Description

July 11, 2025 I am writing today for my daughter, who was involved in a 3 car accident on the Florida Turnpike back on June 16, 2025 mid-day. Originally, there was an accident at mile marker #278 southbound (¾ mile south of exit 278), where the State Troopers were busy clearing an accident. My daughter was traveling in the left lane and all vehicles were slowing down as a result. Car #1 and my daughter, driving in car#2, slowed but car#3 didn’t and rear-ended her causing her to hit car#1 and the concrete barrier to the left. This was in view of Officer Collins (State Police Officer) and he sited car driver#3 for reckless driving . All vehicles were moved to shoulder on right side of road up about 400 feet. Accident Road Ranger cleaned all debris from road. We called for a tow truck, according to truck signage, from A to Z recovery and towing, LLC. Orlando, as they stated on-line reasonable and affordable rates. Tow truck arrived, picked up car, followed us 6.4 miles to Rachel’s Auto Collision off of rt#50. When driver arrived at Rachel’s,, he wrote up a bill on a different companies letterhead (Recovery Empire Towing LLC., Orlando) with a different address and phone#. He gave us a bill for $1512.00 which we questioned as over excessive. IE: Bill stated cleanup fee $179.00, which was already performed by Accident Road Ranger. When questioned, he stated he saw a small piece of glass so whether a little or a lot, it’s the same price. He billed a towing charge AND an additional mileage charge totaling 18 miles at $35 a mile (was only 6.4 miles to facility)and $399.00 for the use of Dolly wheels. He stated to pay with either cash or Zelle payments only (no credit cards) and when we paid through Zelle, he charged an additional $150.20 to the bill which brought the total towing charge to $1662.20 for a 6.4 mile tow. He implied he wasn’t going to release vehicle until paid. After payment, he stated we would get a regular receipt by email which my daughter received through a text message from a 3rd company (SMM Towing, Orlando) for the $1662.20 charge. To top it off, we noticed that there were NO markings of any DOT numbers on his truck which ,from my understanding, needs to be on vehicle, be visible by law and is vehicle is required to have. Because of this, I do not know if he is actually licensed to pick up vehicles, and especially on the Florida Turnpike. I have talked to various entities (Sumter county Sheriffs office, who referred me to Orange county, as it took place there, who then referred me to Florida State Police, who stated they couldn’t do anything towards him (private company)but gave me the names of the 2 tow companies they use on the Turnpike, to just to get a comparison of prices that were charged us. According to what we were told by various law enforcement and tow companies, along with Rachel’s Auto Collision and other tow truck operators, these prices that he charged were way overcharged and the price paid was unheard of for that short of a tow. In addition, the Insurance adjuster, “Daisy Cordero from Progressive Ins., stated that Progressive Ins. won’t reimburse her for this tow as it is so high and stated that it should have been only a couple to a few hundred dollars. We do have a lot of pictures and receipts and a video of the accident location showing no debris.