JULY 5, 2016
CHARLESTON, SC
South Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating the death of a Charleston sanitation worker who was killed near the corner of Francis and Oswego Streets Tuesday afternoon when a garbage truck backed into him.
According to authorities, witnesses said the victim was standing behind the truck, directing it backwards, when the driver, identified as longtime sanitation employee Janie Campbell, rolled over him. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
Lance Cpl. Matt Southern of S.C. Highway Patrol called the victim’s death an “unfortunate accident.”
“I don’t want to speculate since they’re still trying to figure it out themselves, but he may have made a wrong move to the left, a wrong move to the right,” Southern said. “The truck was moving three or four miles an hour — I don’t really know how fast it was going — but I think the driver lost sight of him for some reason.”
Authorities at the scene declined to identify the sanitation worker killed in Tuesday’s accident. Charleston County Deputy Coroner Sheila Williams said her office will release additional details about the victim’s identity after his family has been notified.
“Tonight the whole City of Charleston family is grieving the loss of a Charleston Public Service Department contract worker who died this afternoon in a tragic accident involving a city Public Service Department vehicle,” said Mayor John Tecklenburg in a statement. “For now, our thoughts and prayers are with everyone touched by this terrible tragedy.”
Sanitation employees, including refuse and recyclable material collectors, have one of the country’s most dangerous professions, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with 35.8 deaths per 100,000 workers — more than twice the fatality rate of police and sheriff’s patrol officers.
======================================================= City of Charleston worker killed in truck accident
By ksuraci Updated: July 5, 2016, 9:07 pm
CHARLESTON, SC–A City of Charleston truck was involved in an accident this afternoon at the intersection of Francis St and Oswego St.
A worker from the truck was struck and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The identity of the decedent will be released tomorrow in order for the family to be notified.
The SC Highway Patrol is investigating the accident.
Today, Charleston mayor John Tecklenburg released the following statement, following the tragic death of the worker.
“Tonight the whole City of Charleston family is grieving the loss of a Charleston Public Service Department contract worker who died this afternoon in a tragic accident involving a city Public Service Department vehicle. Few details are known at this time, but the South Carolina Highway Patrol is leading the investigation and the Charleston County coroner will have further details after the family has been notified. For now, our thoughts and prayers are with everyone touched by this terrible tragedy.”