Friday, August 11, 2017

An Alliance Mechanical utility van slammed into a Casella Waste Systems garbage truck that had stopped on a St. Albans road Friday morning, killing one of the Casella employees (Patrick Wedge) and injuring another








A utility van owned by Alliance Mechanical of Vermont slammed into a Casella Waste Systems garbage truck that had stopped on a St. Albans road Friday morning, killing one of the Casella employees and injuring another, police said.

The driver of the van suffered serious injuries.

Casella employees Patrick Wedge and Brian Record were loading garbage into the back of their collection truck on Fairfield Hill Road at the time, according to a statement from St. Albans Police Chief Gary Taylor.

Wedge, of St. Albans, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. He did not hear or see the van coming and was pinned between the truck and the van, police said. Wedge's body has been transported to a state medical examiner's office for an autopsy.

Record, of Colchester, jumped out of the way and suffered minor injuries, according to the police statement.

The driver of the utility van, identified by police as Ben Smyth, was extricated from his vehicle and is in serious condition at the Northwestern Medical Center.

St. Albans police were called to the crash at about 6:29 a.m. Friday.

Smyth was wearing a seat belt during the crash, and police do not believe alcohol was a contributing factor.

Fairfield Hill Road, also known as Vermont 36, was closed Friday morning between Vermont 104 and Rugg Road. It was expected to reopen in early afternoon.

Anyone with information on the crash may call 524-2166 or submit an anonymous tip through the department's website at stalbanspd.com.

Joe Fusco, vice president at Casella Waste Systems, said the company is very concerned about employee safety, especially when workers are stopped on the side of the road just inches or feet from moving traffic.

"Generally, this is the most dangerous part of the job," Fusco said. He encouraged drivers to slow down as they pass parked waste vehicles.

The crash follows a series of deadly crashes this week. Seven people were killed on Vermont roads in a 16-hour period from Sunday night to Monday afternoon, prompting Vermont State Police to increase the visibility of their enforcement efforts. Law enforcement officials pleaded with drivers to take responsibility for safety on the roads.

Here is some info on the poor fellow, Patrick Wedge:


Intro
  • casella waste and recycling
  • Went to Mount Mansfield Unified School District 17
  • Lives in Saint Albans, Vermont
  • Married to Meredith Wedge
  • From Saint Albans, Vermont



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1 worker dead in 2-car crash with garbage truck


One man is dead after a van crashed into a garbage truck in St. Albans.




  Updated: 2:38 PM EDT Aug 11, 2017


ST. ALBANS, Vt. —

One man is dead after a van crashed into a garbage truck in St. Albans.


Police responded to the area of Route 36 and Fairfield Hill around 6:30 a.m. Friday, where a utility van struck the rear of a Casella Garbage truck.

A garbage man, identified as Patrick Wedge, was pronounced dead at the scene after he was pinned between the van and garbage truck.

The driver of the van, Ben Smyth, was trapped in his vehicle and taken to Northwestern Medical Center to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

He was listed in serious condition.

The other man working on the garbage truck, Brian Record, of Colchester, jumped out of the way of the crash.

He was also taken to Northwestern Medical Center where he was treated for minor injuries.Route 36 was closed between Rugg Road and Route 104 (Fisher Pond Road) for about five hours.


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Here is some info on the guys who killed Patrick Wedge

Mechanical Contractor Services

Alliance Mechanical services and maintains more brands of HVAC and refrigeration equipment than other mechanical contractors. Our dynamic technicians have extensive knowledge of heating and air conditioning equipment, so whatever brand you use, we can assist with service and repair. Because our technicians are trained on the latest service technology, they have the tools to audit your HVAC system thoroughly and identify any areas that aren’t running efficiently.

Single-Source Mechanical Contractor

We are a single-source provider for mechanical projects, meaning we work with you from start to finish on optimizing your heating and cooling equipment. From early-stage design and construction to long-term service or emergency maintenance, Alliance Mechanical is your trusted partner in keeping your systems running efficiently.

Quick Response

Our heating and air conditioning service technicians are located strategically throughout Vermont, New Hampshire and New York. This way, we’re never too far away when you need us most and we’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Trained Professionals

Alliance Mechanical’s expert staff is trained on all brands of equipment, so we can service, maintain and optimize your heating and air conditioning systems no matter what. Additionally, our technicians participate in ongoing training programs so we’re always prepared to serve your needs using the latest tools and technology.
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