Hazardous occupation
![Tow truck driver Tim Hernandez stops traffic on the transition from the northbound 605 Freeway to the 10 Freeway as a stranded bus is moved out of the way. Each year, dozens of pedestrians are killed on Southern California freeways.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e85469b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/500x307+0+0/resize/500x307!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F58%2F47%2F1a530cdf069dd4d7da89652f374c%2Fla-me-freeway01.jpg)
Tow truck driver Tim Hernandez stops traffic on the transition from the northbound 605 Freeway to the 10 Freeway as a stranded bus is moved out of the way. Each year, dozens of pedestrians are killed on Southern California freeways. (Alex Gallardo / Los Angeles Times)
![Stranded motorist](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/da3ab86/2147483647/strip/true/crop/500x320+0+0/resize/500x320!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2d%2Fda%2F57aebfa624978e6a29e5651a0246%2Fla-me-freeway02.jpg)
Hernandez talks to a stranded motorist on the 605 Freeway. Rule No. 1 out here: You never take your eyes off the traffic, he says. (Alex Gallardo / Los Angeles Times)
![Hookup](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ff7b00e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/500x321+0+0/resize/500x321!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F77%2F62%2F5e14d0a877228728b7e92a545fa8%2Fla-me-freeway03.jpg)
Hernandez attaches a car’s wheels to a tow truck as Kelly “Kilo” Washington watches traffic on the 605 Freeway. (Alex Gallardo / Los Angeles Times)
![Bus](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d4c55c2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/500x293+0+0/resize/500x293!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc3%2F80%2F8afa76d0f05011ad30893974931f%2Fla-me-freeway04.jpg)
Hernandez points out a safer spot to which to move a stranded Metro bus. (Alex Gallardo / Los Angeles Times)
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![Tire repair](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/01dd57e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/500x346+0+0/resize/500x346!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe8%2F23%2Fcbebfe07587d29abe859609720bd%2Fla-me-freeway05.jpg)
Hernandez jacks up a car with a flat tire on the 605. His family wants him to quit. (Alex Gallardo / Los Angeles Times)
![Transition road](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f6c056d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/292x425+0+0/resize/292x425!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fa5%2F37%2Fac33b5c9b6ee103b7c344cb4d339%2Fla-me-freeway06.jpg)
Hernandez walks along the transition from the 605 to the 10 after responding to a call. There are some places where we wont attempt to repair a flat and well ask them if they can move to a safer location, he says. Some people say, What about my $3,500 rims? I say, What about your life? (Alex Gallardo / Los Angeles Times)
![Steam](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0f814b6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/500x279+0+0/resize/500x279!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd7%2Fed%2F3f73523c27db55a39e93cffd1b7e%2Fla-me-freeway07.jpg)
Waiting for steam to stop spewing from a stranded vehicle. (Alex Gallardo / Los Angeles Times)
![Gas](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ff66517/2147483647/strip/true/crop/500x335+0+0/resize/500x335!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F27%2F0b%2F015e22536af9ae9dcff08db408cd%2Fla-me-freeway08.jpg)
Hernandez pours gas into a truck on the 605 as Nick Acevedo watches the traffic behind him. (Alex Gallardo / Los Angeles Times)