A sanitation worker who was hit by a car while working in Havertown, Delaware County, continued his recovery Friday. His colleagues at the Haverford Township Public Works sanitation department said the man had left the hospital.
On Friday, grim news came after a dark day.
“We’re not traffic cones with legs. We’re people just trying to do our jobs and get home,” said Bob Clark, a Haverford Township sanitation driver.
The message comes after an incident was caught on camera just before 8am on Thursday. A video shared with CBS News Philadelphia from a garbage truck in Haverford Township shows a car stopping briefly on Leedom Road in Havertown. The car is then seen driving around the truck before hitting one of the sanitation workers and leaving the scene.
“My friend, my brother was roadkill,” Clark said. He continued, “There wasn’t even a brake light.”
Haverford Township police said the driver, a Drexel Hill man, turned himself in Thursday. He was charged, arraigned and released after posting bail.
“If you’re willing to play God with someone’s life … you really have to examine yourself,” said Craig Howard, a Haverford Township sanitation worker.
While the injured man’s colleagues note that he is out of the hospital, they said he is still in a lot of pain and quite confused. This all comes as he is getting married next week.
“My biggest concern is making sure everyone goes home safely, my entire crew … and that’s the worst feeling in the world,” said Robert Steelman, a sanitation supervisor.
“Thank God everything is OK,” said Len Rieco, a neighbor who lives on the street where the accident happened. ‘It’s startling. When you go to work, you don’t think you could be killed. You know? It’s scary.’
Neighbors said they heard a truck horn and screaming. Many of them ran outside to help, render aid and pray.
“We’re really grateful that all the neighbors came out to help our employee. It says a lot about Haverford Township, Havertown as a community, and it’s a big deal,” said Haverford Township Manager David Burman.
Emotions remain high in the public works department. Howard and Clark were also working on the route when it all happened.
“My partner is incredibly grateful for the well wishes of all the neighbors and just those who come out and show an outpouring of love and respect for him,” Howard said.
That goes without saying, but the message to drivers cannot be repeated enough.
“All the crews want is to get home in one piece. Please slow down around my crew,” Steelman said.
This job, the crew, it’s family to them.
