Many New Yorkers have sounded off about the driving habits of garbage truck drivers in the city. An accident last month in Manhattan underscores the importance of paying attention to these heavy vehicles while driving or walking in New York City.
The crash near Columbus Circle in the early morning hours occurred when a garbage truck rear-ended a delivery truck. The garbage truck, which belonged to a private contractor, was heading southbound on Ninth Avenue. It slammed into a stopped delivery truck near 58th Street.
It is not known where the stopped delivery truck was parked or whether it had turned on the flashers to alert other drivers.
Both the drivers were taken to area hospitals, one to Bellevue and the other to Cornell. Both were reported to be in serious by stable condition as a result of the trucking accident, according to the police and NYPD.
Earlier this year, a young rabbinical student was killed when a city sanitation truck ran over him in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. He was struck as he was crossing the street. According to the New York Post, the truck had a green light when it made a right turn. However, the young man had a walk signal as well. The victim was hit by the front end of the truck and knocked down. He was then run over by the rear wheels of the vehicle.
Another garbage truck accident occurred last fall in the Bronx. According tonews reports, the driver was run over by his own truck after being ejected from the seat when he crashed into a stanchion.
Garbage truck accidents are relatively rare. However, the sheer size and weight of those vehicles make it critical for drivers to be especially alert when making their rounds.
Source: DNAInfo, “2 People Seriously Hurt in Garbage Truck Crash, FDNY Says,” Apr. 22, 2104.