Tow truck drivers gathered in Pasco County to pay their respects to a New Port Richey who was struck and killed while trying to help an injured motorcyclist.
Denise Gajus owned a tow truck company along with her husband. On Sunday, the Gajuses were called to the scene of a crash on U.S. 19 in Pasco County.
A motorcyclist flipped over while they were handling the original crash.
"When that guy went down on the bike, she was the first one there,” said Gajus' friend Mike Schmidt.
Gajus ran across U.S. 19 to help the motorcyclist, but on her way back, she was hit and killed by another driver.
Paul Gerry called his friend a "tremendous woman" with a "heart of gold."
“Her first thought would be on the person that could have got hurt laying in the roadway," Gerry said. "That would be her heart, to get that person to safety, not thinking of herself. She always thought of others."
On Friday, Gerry, Schmidt and other members of the tow truck community came together to celebrate her life.
“Anytime I needed anything, Ward, Denise, they were there,” Schmidt said.
The Gajuses started their towing business in the 1960s.
“They never changed ownership since they day they started,” said Schmidt.
They became a staple in the community, touching hundreds of hearts.
"We call her the towing mom because she’s been like a mom to pretty much all the tow truck drivers around here,” said Carlos Rodriguez, who considers himself one of Gajus' tow truck children.
After the funeral, lines of cars drove by her business. Many stopped, paused for a moment of silence, then blew their horns and flashed their lights in tribute.
Gajus' husband was too distraught to speak, but a family friend told us what he was going through.
Following the funeral lines of cars drove by her business. Many stopped, had a moment of silence, followed by blowing their horns, and flashing their lights in tribute.
“To lose somebody in the manner in which Denise was taken out, he told me in plain English the only thing that is going to get me through this is Jesus,” said Gerry.