PAINESVILLE, Ohio (WJW) - Members of Northeast Ohio's close-knit towing and racing communities paid tribute to one of their own, 24-year-old Zachary "Zac" Brunkala, with an impressive procession of tow trucks, race cars and other high-performance vehicles.
“That kid was amazing, he was amazing," Zac’s father, Rich Brunkala, told FOX 8. "He could do anything, everybody loved him. He helped everybody anytime."
Zac's passion was racing and his number 47 car was a fixture on the local speedway circuit.
During the procession on Wednesday night from Willowick to Painesville, the race car was prominently displayed on a flatbed trailer.
Friends say it was Zac's professionalism as a tow truck driver that endeared to him to many in the Greater Cleveland Area.
"If you would call Zac at three in the morning because you've got a flat tire, Zac would get out of bed and go help you with your flat tire," said Jerry Smith, the owner of Bullet Recovery and Towing.
Last Thursday afternoon, Zac was in his tow truck on Route 2 in Willoughby, unaware that there was an accident up ahead.
"The smashed cars were on the freeway and they left them there and walked on the berm, and all the chaos came and cars were backing up and skidding and it was a bad pile-up,” said his father.
Investigators say that as Zac came over a rise in the highway, his tow truck crashed into the back of a plumbing truck stopped in the traffic back up, and then crashed into another vehicle.
The 24-year-old was pulled from the wreckage but was later pronounced dead at University Hopsitals Lake West Hospital.
"He was supposed to meet me and he didn't meet me, so I was calling him, he's not answering. I'm driving down the freeway and I looked over and saw his truck all smashed up," his grief-stricken father said.
Friends say Wednesday’s procession was not only a tribute to Zac, it was a reminder to everyone about the dangerous nature of freeway accidents.
"To lose Zac in an accident like that is just, it breaks all of our hearts. It breaks our hearts and hopefully we can all learn from it,” said Smith. "If you’re in an accident, get off to the side of the road. Don't block a highway where cars can’t control it at 55, 65 miles an hour."
The destination of the procession was the Painesville Speedway, where Zac Brunkala was a championship level driver and beloved member of the local racing community.
His family and friends say the track was a fitting backdrop for the celebration of Zac's life.
“He loved the racetrack, we've been going there since he was in his carrier. He couldn't even walk yet,” said his father.
In the ultimate display of horsepower and respect for Zac, his fellow race car drivers and friends pulled onto the figure 8 track and did a large scale and orchestrated burn-out.
The tribute is a source of pride for his grieving family.
"I am so blown away. The love and support makes me feel so good. Oh, Zac would be so proud right now, this is all for him," his father said.
Zac leaves behind his fiancée and a young son and daughter. His funeral service will be held on Friday in Willoughby.