Caldwell sanitation employee dies after being run over by garbage truck
Posted: Thursday, August 18, 2016 12:00 am
Caldwell, Texas
A 65-year-old City of Caldwell sanitation employee died Wednesday morning after authorities say he fell from the side rail of a garbage truck and was run over.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, troopers responded to Sixth Street in Caldwell around 7:45 a.m. Wednesday morning. Authorites say Gary Lambert dropped from the rail of the garbage truck, which then backed out and crushed him under the front right tire. Lambert was rushed to St. Joseph's hospital in Caldwell, and died from his injuries about an hour later.
The truck he had been working on Wednesday morning was a 2016 model Western Star truck. Online market descriptions of the truck list it as weighing about nine to 10 tons on the front axel. One market listing noted the truck comes equipped with a backup alarm, but it is unclear whether Lambert had warning that the truck was backing up. Investigators have not released additional information on the circumstances surrounding the accident.
Caldwell city officials said that Lambert had worked for the city for 10 years.
"On behalf of the city of Caldwell, I would like to extend my deepest condolences to Mr. Lambert's family and friends," wrote city administrator Johnny Price in a public statement.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, fatal accidents involving sanitation workers are fairly rare. OSHA's website featured reports of similar accidents, with the most recent being a 2013 incident in South Carolina.