The owner of the Best Towing Company, who failed to appear at a state Department of Public Utilities (DPU) hearing last week, is "either a phantom or does not exist," an official at the department said yesterday.

Owner Nowhere

William B. Carroll, whose towing company was servicing the accounts of Ellery Garage during the first part of a 60-day DPU suspension order Ellery is currently serving, "is nowhere to be found," a DPU investigator said.

Hearings to investigate alleged towing violations that could result in the suspension of Best's operating license are schedules for November 14.

Another DPU official said last week if Carroll does not appear, Best's license will probably be revoked.

"If Roger Starr (the owner of Ellery Garage) can't produce him, he'll be standing on thin ice," the official said, adding "It's hard to pass your company over to somebody who doesn't exist."

Barbara Carroll Cooney, Carroll's ex-wife, said last week she has not heard from her ex-husband in over a year and has no idea of his whereabouts.

On August 16, 1975, after Carroll failed to appear at divorce hearings to answer charges of "cruel and abusive treatment," the court granted the couple a divorce. The court records list Carroll's address as "Parts Unknown."

Sanford A. Kowal, Carroll's attorney, said last week he has only spoken to a "man claiming to be Carroll who said he was calling from Florida."

Roger F. Starr, owner of Ellery Garage, said last week, "I wish I had never met Carroll. If you find out where he is, please call and tell me."

Hearings to investigate alleged circumvention of the 60-day DPU suspension order by Ellery Garage are scheduled for November 21.

Alleged Violations

In a related development, hearings investigating alleged towing violations by Ellery Garage during snowstorms last winter ended yesterday.

George Teso, Cambridge Parking and Traffic Commissioner, yesterday explained the methods his department used to determine snow emergency conditions and subsequent sign-posting and towing that occurs.

Teso said his department has experienced many problems with such towings in the past but has never been able to enlist the aid of the DPU.

John W. Seely, director of the Commercial Motor Vehicles Division of the DPU, said that, to his knowledge, Teso had never attempted to contact his office.

No Signs

Theodore Live, a Cambridge resident, said yesterday his car was towed by Ellery Garage last winter despite the absence of signs prohibiting parking due to snow emergency conditions.

The DPU has not yet handed down a decision in the case.