photo by WJXT News4JAX
A sanitation worker was killed Friday afternoon after an accident occurred while working on Jacksonville’s Westside, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
The fatal accident occurred around 11:17 a.m. in a neighborhood on Driftwood Hills Drive, JSO said.
According to JSO, the garbage truck was westbound collecting trash as another truck approached eastbound. Due to the size of the two trucks, they were not able to go around one another, so the driver of the garbage truck started to back up eastbound. The sanitation worker, who had been throwing trash into the back of the garbage truck, stood on the road on the passenger’s side of the truck to help the driver with backing. As the garbage truck backed eastbound, the worker attempted to jump onto the back of the truck but slipped on the step and fell.
The worker, who was 22 years old, died at the scene, according to JSO.
A B, a resident, spoke to News4JAX after the accident.
“I noticed that the road was blocked off and that I could see the gentleman, unfortunately in the road, and could kind of tell what had happened,” B said.
B added, “I feel even worse because it was our trash he was picking up, though. So I’ve kind of dealt with the guilt all day, feeling like, Oh my gosh. What if we had just hired somebody to haul that off instead of having regular bulk pickup come pick it up.”
B extended her thoughts and prayers to the man’s family.
“It’s awful to have to go through that. Nobody should have to do that, especially not a freak accident like this,” B said.
JSO said it is investigating the incident.
This is the 157th traffic fatality in Duval County this year.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family of this young man.
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Source: news4jax
