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A man is suffering from life-threatening injuries after being trapped in a large recycling collection truck and being crushed by the compactor on Tuesday morning.
Penticton RCMP and the Penticton Fire Department responded just after 6 a.m.
Calls came in for emergency response after a man who had ostensibly been sleeping in a bin became trapped in the back of a recycling truck while workers were collecting recycling materials from dumpsters in the downtown core of Penticton.
The driver of the truck was alerted when he heard someone was yelling in the back of his large truck and he called 911.
RCMP and PFD showed up to Wade Avenue West with one engine and three firefighters to aid in the response.
According to police, a 52-year old male appeared to have been sleeping in an unlocked recycling dumpster.
When the truck picked up the dumpster, the man was dumped into the back of the large truck and mechanically compacted with the load by the operator, inadvertently crushing him in the process.
A Penticton local spotted the incident this morning and shared the photos, hoping that the individual was okay.
“So when I drove down past the Scotia Bank, behind it, there was a garbage truck parked there. Police were on top, the fire department was there and an ambulance was there,” Mary Turner shared, adding she’s heard of incidents like this happening elsewhere, but not in town.
“All I can say is that I hope both parties that were involved are okay.”
Emergency crews attended, were able to extract the male and transport him for medical care.
Rob Trupp, Assistant Chief with the PFD, shared that his crews extricated the man from the hopper area of the garbage truck using a basket stretcher, rope system and a ladder.
“The crew did an excellent job extricating the victim from a difficult area,” Trupp added.
The male is suffering from life threatening injuries.
“The Penticton RCMP are continuing to investigate this tragic event and anyone with information is encouraged to call the detachment at 250-492-4300,” said Staff Sergeant Bob Vatamaniuck of the Penticton RCMP.
