The Spirit Ride casket is traveling across the country to raise awareness of the "Slow Down Move Over" law.
Stephanie Bowles, the widow of Scott Bowles, a tow operator who was hit and killed on the side of the highway last year, said she is glad Spirit Ride is trying to raise awareness.
"70 percent of the motoring public have no clue what this law is, that's why we are here today," Bowles said.
The Spirit Ride, a traveling memorial to honor the fallen and raise awareness of the "Slow Down Move Over" law, made its way to Central Texas.
"I jumped on it as soon as I could to have it come to our area. I just felt like it was something I had to do," Matthew Jarma, a tow operator for Temple Towing, said.
The Spirit Ride traveled from Llano Tuesday morning to Temple Towing where it was greeted by several first responders and towing operators.
"It's heartwarming for me that we can have something like this that can bring us all together as a brotherhood and sisterhood," Jarma said.
Central Texas has felt the pain from the "Slow Down Move Over" law not being obeyed.
"The doctors at the hospital told me that he died on impact because of the massive internal injuries he had sustained. My life was forever changed that day," Bowles said.
State representative Hugh Shine said he believes the Spirit Ride is a great way to honor those who have fallen.
"We take for granted a lot of the services that people provide for us in our community, a lot of those services are very hazardous. I applaud the Winklers and those who are associated with the tow trucks of the work that they do, and I think this is a great tribute," Shine said.
By the end of the year, the Spirit Ride will visit 300 cities across the nation.
Mike Corbin, a member of the Spirit Ride command team, said he hopes they can make a real change.
"Some do think that it is a real funeral, and it could be, that's the thing... that this could be a real funeral. We want people to realize that, and we want them to obey the law and use courtesy, and let every first responder go home at the end of the day," Corbin said.
The Spirit Ride is being escorted by Temple Towing to Grand Prairie and will pass it onto Dave's Highway Wrecker Service Tuesday night.
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