Public reacts to images, videos of tow truck operator's death

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Rio Grande Valley is reacting to the graphic photos and videos circulating on social media of the death of tow truck operator David Zapata.

Zapata, 46, was killed Tuesday afternoon while securing another vehicle onto the tow truck in the shoulder lane on IH-2 east of FM 506 in Harlingen.

The tragic manner of Zapata's death and the overflow of images have led a majority of Valley residents to call for the removal of those images from social media.

"David Zapata lost his life on the expressway while doing his job," said Harlingen Mayor Norma Sepulveda. "He was out there working to help someone, just like tow truck drivers do every single day. A driver didn’t slow down, didn’t move over, and didn’t stop. But what made it even worse was seeing the graphic images of his body shared online. Not just once, but over and over. It was careless. It was cruel. It was wrong."

As the many images circulate online, there are also as many tributes and well wishes for Zapata and his family.

Mayor Hugo Gamboa of Progreso posted on Facebook about the loss of his childhood friend and the memories of that friendship.

Texas law requires drivers to move over—putting a lane between them and roadside workers—or reduce their speed to 20 mph below the posted speed limit when passing law enforcement, tow trucks, utility vehicles, emergency responders, and TxDOT vehicles stopped with activated overhead lights on the side of the road.