Tow trucks, emergency vehicles take part in funeral procession for Centre County towing company owner

A long row of tow trucks and emergency vehicles made its way to Pine Hall Cemetery in Ferguson Township on Friday afternoon to honor the life of local towing company owner Jim Corl.

Corl, the owner of Valley Truck and Trailer, was removing a disabled semitrailer from Interstate 80 in Clinton County on Nov. 6 when a driver slammed his vehicle into Corl’s 2021 Freightliner Columbia. Corl was outside the vehicle when it was hit, state police at Lamar said.

He was 80 years old.

Corl worked alongside area fire companies for decades, and many of those mourned the loss over the past week.

“Jim and his business, Valley Truck and Trailer have assisted us many times throughout the years providing heavy wrecker service to assist with vehicle accidents and rescues,” Boalsburg Fire Company posted on Facebook Sunday. “Jim was known and will be missed by many.”

Following Corl’s funeral services at Koch Funeral Home, towing and emergency vehicles were invited to follow the procession to Pine Hall Cemetery on West College Avenue. About 100 vehicles took part.

This story was originally published November 12, 2021 at 4:17 PM.