Driver of garbage truck fatally runs over man at private carting facility in Brooklyn.
A tragic incident occurred in Brooklyn on Wednesday morning when a 54-year-old man was fatally struck by a garbage truck at a private carting garage. The victim, identified as Franklin Torres, had been inside the facility located on Stanley Avenue near Berriman Street in East New York when he was hit shortly before 5 a.m. The driver of the 2024 Freightliner garbage truck, a 58-year-old man, was backing into the building when the accident occurred.
According to law enforcement officials, Torres was knocked to the ground and then rolled over by the truck before it came to a stop. Emergency medical personnel quickly transported Torres to Brookdale University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead later that day. The driver of the truck remained on the scene following the incident, and law enforcement authorities are currently conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident.
As of now, no arrests have been made, and police have not released further details regarding the investigation. Torres was reported to have lived in Yonkers, New York, and his death has prompted a response from Interstate Waste Services, the parent company of the facility where the incident took place. Josh Haraf, a vice president at the company, expressed deep sadness over the event and extended condolences to Torres’s family and friends. Haraf noted that the company is fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation but was unable to provide additional comments at this time.
The garage where the accident transpired is operated by Action Environmental Services, a subsidiary of Interstate Waste Services. Questions remain concerning Torres’s employment status at the facility. A spokesperson for Action Environmental Services did not clarify whether Torres was an employee at the time of the incident, and a representative from the New York Police Department was similarly unable to confirm his employment status when contacted.
As investigations continue, the community mourns the loss of Franklin Torres, highlighting the need for heightened safety protocols in busy industrial environments. The incident underscores the importance of cautious driving, especially in areas where pedestrians may be present. Further updates are expected as the investigation progresses.
