Man in wheelchair fatally struck by city-owned garbage truck, police say

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHAM) — A man was struck and killed Tuesday by a city-owned and -operated garbage truck, and police are investigating.

Rochester police said they responded around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday to the city’s North Side and found a man dead at the scene.

What police say happened

Officers said a garbage truck was traveling eastbound on Warsaw Street and was attempting to make a left turn onto Hudson Avenue. At the same time, the man, who was operating a motorized wheelchair, was on the west shoulder of the road.

Witnesses said the wheelchair was pinned under the front end of the truck.

Police said the driver of the truck, a man in his 50s, was not hurt.

Officers do not believe drugs or alcohol played a role in the incident.

Bystander describes scene

Carl Canty came upon the scene minutes after the crash, as first responders worked to secure the area.

“You could see the wheelchair up under the garbage truck, and there were people that were there that were really pretty distraught at the situation in the scene,” Canty said.

Canty also said he feels for the driver of the truck.

“It was just kind of devastating to drive by and see that, and think someone just probably left, went to the store, wherever. They’re not going to return home,” he said.

City response

Rochester Mayor Malik Evans offered condolences and said the city is committed to conducting a thorough investigation to determine how the crash happened and what can be done to prevent further tragedies like this one.

The victim had not yet been identified.