Parking dispute leaves Houston runners frustrated after vehicles towed during race

Nearly 20 runners had their cars towed from a lot they believed was approved for event parking. Organizers offered merchandise and future race passes.

HOUSTON — A race to the finish line ended with about 20 runners racing to a tow yard. More than a month after the Watermelon Dash, several participants say they remain frustrated after their cars were towed from a lot they believed had been approved for event parking.

For 12 years, Houston Running Co. has organized races in the Karbach area focused on fitness, philanthropy and community. But after this year’s Watermelon Dash, some participants, including Kaitlin Stokes, are now searching for answers and relief.

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“One person came back and was like, ‘If you guys are parking over there, your cars are being towed.’ And we had seen the tow trucks going by during the race, but we didn’t realize it was our cars,” Stokes said.

Stokes and her college friends carpooled to the Aug. 8 race. Their vehicle was among nearly 20 towed from a lot participants believed had been approved for parking.

Guadalupe Machado said the race was supposed to be a fun family outing.

“So, by the time you go to the car, you’re tired. It was pretty hot. And then I had my baby in the stroller. I had my son, and it was my husband too,” she said.

Houston Running Co. said it received permission from business owners for participants to park in the lot. However, organizers said that permission was not relayed to the property owner, allowing the vehicles to be towed.

Participants said it cost between $300 and $320 to retrieve each vehicle. They said Houston Running Co. initially promised to reimburse them.

“I mean, it’s just like people don’t have that money sitting around to just pay on top of the fee for the race and everything else,” Stokes said.

In a statement to KHOU 11, Houston Running Co. said in part:

“We absolutely understand the frustration, inconvenience, and expense experienced by those whose vehicles were towed. … At no point, however, did Houston Running Co. promise in our communications that towing charges would be reimbursed in cash.”

The company said it instead offered each affected participant a goodwill package valued at more than $250.

“Once we understood the circumstances, we still wanted to do something meaningful to show our participants that we cared about what they had experienced,” the statement said.

The package included event merchandise and passes to future running events.

“But we all denied the offer because we are so scared to go back to one of those races and then just get our cars towed again,” Machado said.

Stokes said she realizes she may not be reimbursed but hopes her experience serves as a warning to others.

“I want other people to be aware so they, you know, watch where they’re parking and not believe these things,” she said.

Moving forward, organizers said they will take the additional step of verifying parking authorization with individual businesses and property owners.

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