Maine Dumpster Diver Nearly Crushed

Feb. 14--A woman nearly lost her life over a few dollars' worth of scrap metal in south Wichita early Thursday morning.

She was scavenging in a dumpster behind the Wichita Mall, 4165 E. Harry, at about 4:45 a.m. when a garbage truck driver arrived and lifted the dumpster's contents into the back of his truck, a Sedgwick County dispatch supervisor said.

"They dumped the trash out and she went with it," the supervisor said.

The woman's sister jumped out of their car and yelled, "Wait!"

They could hear her yelling for help inside the garbage truck, and called 911.

Firefighters arrived and dug her out of the back of the garbage truck by hand, the supervisor said. She was taken to Via Christi Hospital on East Harry for evaluation, though her injuries ended up being minor.

"She was lucky they didn't turn the blades on yet and crush her," the supervisor said.

Reach Stan Finger at 316-268-6437 or sfinger@wichitaeagle.com.

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