Climbers' Own Stories

OVERLOADED AND LIED TO: THE TOWER COLLAPSE THAT KILLED 3

Released July 29, 2025 - Tommy Schuch Media

In 2014, three lives were lost in Despard, West Virginia due to a preventable tower collapse. This is their story.

Tower climbers Kyle Kirkpatrick and Terry Lee Richards Jr. were killed when a 340-foot tower collapsed due to many factors including, hidden overloading, and the removal of key bracing. Moments later, a second tower fell, killing volunteer firefighter Michael Dale Garrett, who had just arrived on scene.

This disaster is not an isolated event in the wireless industry — but what caused it was buried in silence. This documentary talks about the preventable errors, the ignored red flags, and firsthand accounts of those on scene.

Featuring Firsthand Accounts From :

Kenny White – On-site foreman

Richard Bell – Expert witness in the case

Randall Shankles – Tower company owner

Doug Delaney – Tower veteran & author of Tower Dog

These stories reveal a truth common in this industry: equipment was added to the tower before scheduled reinforcements were made — a fact concealed from the climbers who were sent to work on it. This dangerous overloading may have been the final, fatal factor.

join cpg

He Nearly Died On The Job And The Company Walked Away

Released January, 2025 - Tommy Schuch Media

Tower climber Andy Schneider had a serious accident while working on a tower site. Ends up with nearly 100k in hospital bills and the company re-classified him from a W-2 Employee to 1099 to absolve any liabilty.

This is not uncommon in the tower industry and it needs to change. To stop this cycle, we need federal regulations that enforce strict safety standards and hold companies accountable, like OSHA’s proposed safety rules for tower work and the Corporate Transparency Act, which prevents businesses from hiding behind name changes. Not only every tower climber, but every worker deserves to be treated with respect.

join cpg

He Watched His Friend Fall: A Tower Climber's Story (Devon Collins, 2019)

Released June 10, 2025

Daniel Hovey was on site in Norcross, Georgia in 2019 when his friend and fellow tower climber, Devon Collins, fell to his death. In this raw and emotional interview, Daniel shares exactly what happened that day — and how it changed his perspective on the industry forever. This is a firsthand account of tragedy in the tower world — and a sobering reminder of the real human cost behind ignored red flags, unsafe work conditions, and the pressure climbers face to get the job done no matter what.

Reporting Saves Live

Death on a tower - 240 fall of a cell tower climber

Released April 5, 2025, Tommy Schuch Media

This clip from The Life of a Tower Climber Part I: Death and Chaos in a Vital Industry tells the story of Darren Bishop — a husband, father, and experienced tower climber who made a fatal mistake and lost his life on the job. Through interviews with Darren’s family and friends, we get a glimpse of who he was and what he loved.His story represents far too many like it in an industry plagued by unsafe practices, lack of oversight, and a dangerous push for profit over people. This segment is part of the full-length documentary, which gets into the dark reality behind one of America’s most vital — and most dangerous — industries.

Watch full-length documentary - The Life of a Tower Climber 1: Death and Chaos In a Vital Industry

All CPG videos are provided courtesy of Tommy Schuch Media

Tommy Schuch Media is the storytelling arm of the Climber Protection Group, producing transparent and eye opening stories that expose the real conditions tower climbers face every day.

Led by former climber and CPG Founder/President Tommy Schuch, the media platform brings truth to light through firsthand interviews, field footage, and honest narratives that amplify the voices of workers often left out of the conversation.

All video rights reserved, Tommy Schuch Media 2025

Forward all licensing requests to tommyschuchmedia@gmail.com