Sanitation truck accident
QUEENS, N.Y. – According to The New York Daily News, a city-owned sanitation truck rolled over in Queens, New York. The rollover accident involved at least two other motor vehicles and caused multiple injuries with various degrees of severity. The New York Daily News report stated that the accident happened on the Belt Parkway in Queens. The crash caused a large traffic backup and took some time for crews to clear the damaged vehicles and transport the injured victims to local hospitals. Officials have the accident under investigation at this time and have not released their final report on the matter.
The New York Daily News indicated that the New York City Sanitation truck was traveling on the Belt Parkway near the intersection of Merrick Boulevard in the Laurelton neighborhood of Queens. The news report indicates that the garbage truck was headed west when the accident transpired around 8:15 p.m.
Investigators are searching for clues to figure out what happened. Reports indicate that the sanitation vehicle rolled over and trapped two cars. However, the investigators are trying to determine why the compactor of the sanitation truck fell off. The compactor dislodged from the rear of the sanitation truck and crushed the side of one of the vehicles involved. The compactor also landed on top of another vehicle.
The Daily News reported that four people sustained injuries in the accident. A witness to the accident told a reporter that the operator of the sanitation truck appeared to have a bloodied face. According to that witness, first responders placed the injured operator into an awaiting ambulance. Officials stated that one person was seriously injured and received transport to Jamaica Hospital. Three additional crash victims received treatment for minor injuries at Jamaica Hospital as well.
New York Sanitation officials were not available to comment on the situation. Officials continue to have the matter under investigation.
