Sanitation Worker Critically Injured When Truck Slips Off Road

SAINT MARGARETS, MD -- A sanitation employee was critically injured June 17 during a routine trash pickup at approximately 7:46 a.m. The accident occurred along Pleasant Plains Road near Weems Farm Road in St. Maragarets. According to the Anne Arundel County Police Department, the garbage truck owned by MGB Leasing was actively picking up residential trash and was southbound on Pleasant Plains Road with two employees riding on the rear platforms.

The garbage truck driver attempted to give northbound traffic more room and moved to the right edge of his lane, which caused his right side rear tires to slip off the roadway. The garbage truck then hit a utility pole, which struck the employee on the right rear platform, knocking him off the truck. Gary Sinclair Jr., 33, of Baltimore, was transported to an area trauma center with critical life-threatening injuries. The other garbage truck employee on the left rear side of the truck, 32-year-old Dwayne Pettigrew Jr. of Balitmore, was taken to an area trauma center with minor injuries.

Authorities determined that the cause of the crash was "failing to remain in a single lane." The Traffic Safety Section is investigating the incident and the case will be reviewed by the State Attorney.