Emergency Response represented at Light Up the Sky event

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Emergency Response operator Nabor Madrigal attended the 10th annual Light Up the Sky / Move Over for Blake event on Saturday, Aug. 27, representing KC Scout and MoDOT's Emergency Response team. Emergency response operators know firsthand how important events such as these are as their lives depend on the safe driving of motorists.

Every year tow truck drivers and other emergency response groups from across the KC metro gather together in remembrance of Blake Gresham, a tow truck operator who was struck and killed by a motorist in 2012. According to their website, Move Over for Blake is a non-profit entity dedicated to raising public safety awareness for towers and other emergency personnel on roadways.

According to Operations Supervisor, Scott Banes, Emergency Response has participated in this event several times. This year, however, was especially important to the team as it was the event's tenth anniversary.

"This event is an opportunity for Emergency Response to show our support in the effort to educate and raise awareness about motorists moving over and slowing down when emergency workers are out working. Whether we're helping stranded motorists or working a crash, this a danger we all face every day," explained Banes. 

The event sells a variety of t-shirts, bumper stickers, and other memorabilia in honor of Blake. 100% of the proceeds from these sales go to erecting billboards in the Kansas City area and beyond cautioning motorists to recognize emergency workers on the roadway.

If you're interested in learning more or would like to contribute to the cause, you can call Blake's mother, Amy Gresham, at 1-816-532-8096.


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