The 24-year-old was hit and left on the roadside during his first day at a new company. Nearly three weeks later, his family is still pleading for answers.
SAN ANTONIO — Nearly three weeks after a hit-and-run crash along Loop 410 left a young tow truck driver with life-altering injuries, his family is still searching for the driver responsible.
Julian Ramirez, 24, was working early Feb. 16 along Loop 410 near Ray Ellison Drive and the Medina Base area when a vehicle struck him and drove away, according to his family.
Ramirez was towing a vehicle at the time of the crash, which happened around 1:13 a.m.
“We got the call no parent wants to receive,” said his mother, Brandy Salinas.
The father of six had just started working with a new towing company and was on what his family describes as his unofficial first night on the job while being evaluated for a permanent position.
On TikTok, Ramirez often shared videos from the roadside showing the reality of his job—hooking up vehicles while traffic rushed by just feet away.
His bio reads: “Just a 24-year-old tow man.”
In at least one of those videos, Ramirez reminds drivers of a simple rule meant to protect roadside workers: slow down and move over.
Salinas said Ramirez had taken proper precautions the night of the crash.
“Per his bosses’ descriptions, he did everything right,” she said. “He was in a well-lit area. He was well within his parking range where he was supposed to stop.”
When Salinas arrived at the hospital, she said the extent of her son’s injuries shocked the family.
“We came into this blindsided as far as how bad he was and how severe everything was going,” she said.
Salinas said the crash left Ramirez with catastrophic injuries.
“It severed his right leg at the knee, broke his pelvis, broke his ribs, skull fracture, torn colon, orbital fracture, nasal fracture,” she said.
Since then, Ramirez has suffered strokes on both sides of his brain and damage to his brain stem. Doctors were later forced to amputate his leg to the hip.
His recovery has been slow, his family says. Ramirez now relies on a feeding tube as he continues treatment and rehabilitation.
“It’s going to be a long, lengthy road for this—for all of us,” Salinas said.
Investigators have spoken with at least two witnesses, according to Salinas. Detectives told the family they are working to get clearer visuals of the suspect vehicle.
“The detective has let us know that there are two witnesses. They have some indication of what the vehicle is,” Salinas said. “They informed me it is a light-colored sedan that hit him.”
Salinas believes someone in the area may have information that could help investigators.
“Someone in that area, maybe even further, knows,” she said. “It happened in an area where there’s several gas stations along the way.”
She said the vehicle involved in the crash likely sustained significant damage.
“Someone has to know something,” Salinas said. “This car, for the amount of damage done to my son, this car is pretty severely damaged. If a car hits a deer and gets totaled, I’m sure this car is as well.”
While investigators search for the driver, Ramirez continues his recovery surrounded by family.
At home, six young children are waiting for him. Their ages range from seven months to 5 years old.
Salinas says Ramirez’s determination gives the family hope.
“Julian is very hard-headed and stubborn,” she said. “We have no doubt he’s going to get through this because he has that fight in him. He has too much to live for.”
The family has created a GoFundMe to help cover Ramirez’s medical expenses and support his children as he continues treatment.
Salinas says the family is asking the public to pray for Ramirez and to share his story in hopes someone will come forward with information.
Anyone with information about the crash is urged to contact local authorities.
To assist Julian during his road to recovery, click here.