Man Survives Crushing in Kansas City Trash Truck

Sept. 05--A 51-year-old man who fell asleep in an industrial recycle bin sustained two broken legs after he was dumped in the back of a trash truck early Thursday in Kansas City.

The trash truck driver picked up the bin about 2:15 a.m. behind the Family Dollar Store at 6827 Longview Road. He told police he noticed the bin contained cardboard as he emptied it into the compactor. He crushed the contents using the truck's hydraulic cylinders, just like he does after every pick up.

As he was driving south on Blue Ridge Boulevard toward his next pick-up, he heard noises in the back of the truck. He thought the noises were simply racoons, which happens commonly, he told police. But as he arrived at his next trash bin at the Truman Corners shopping center in Grandview, he heard screaming. He got out of the truck and realized a person was screaming from the back of his truck.

He shut off the truck and called 911. Grandview firefighters lowered themselves into the back of the truck through an opening at the top and rescued the homeless man. They put him on a backboard and used an aerial truck to lift the backboard out of the truck.

Grandview Assistant Fire Chief Jim Toone said he wasn't sure if the victim sustained his injuries from being dropped into the truck by the truck's forklift, or from being crushed.

The victim told police had was sleeping in the trash bin when he heard the trash truck. But before he could escape, he found himself "stuck in the back of the truck in a great deal of pain," according to a police report.

An ambulance took the victim to a hospital. Doctors said both of his legs appeared broken. Doctors said he may have suffered other injuries, but he was expected to survive.

To reach Christine Vendel, call 816-234-4438 or send email to cvendel@kcstar.com.

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