Philadelphia Parking Authority employee run over, killed by tow truck

SOUTH PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A Philadelphia Parking Authority employee has died after being run over by a tow truck at a PPA lot in South Philadelphia on Wednesday.

The Philadelphia Parking Authority and the victim's family are devastated by the tragic accident.

Vince Fenerty, Executive Director of the PPA, tells Action News that Bayers is the first employee to be killed on the job in his 32 years at the authority.

"It's just is a devastating effect on this agency."

It happened around 6:50 a.m. at a lot located at 2501 Weccacoe Avenue.

Police and the Philadelphia Parking Authority say the tow truck driver was backing up when it hit and pinned 60-year-old Jeff Bayers. The two were just wrapping up the midnight to 8 a.m. shift.

The tow driver had just dropped off a vehicle at Lot 1 of the Parking Authority in South Philadelphia. Bayers was lot officer who checked in vehicles.

Fenerty tells us, "He was a stellar employee here. Didn't miss time from work, was a wonderful man. I would love to have a hundred Jeffs."

Fenerty calls the incident a tragic accident. He says the tow truck driver had only been on the job a year, but was a stellar employee.

"He is devastated. I couldn't begin to guess how someone would feel who accidentally killed a coworker," Fenerty said.

Bayers had worked at the Parking Authority for 13 years. He leaves behind a wife and three children...two adult sons and a teenage daughter.

"He was a great guy. He was a great husband, he was married for 32 years, raised his children, was a hardworking man," Fennerty said.

Philadelphia Police are investigating and there've been no charges.

The Occupation Safety and Health Administration is looking into the matter.