One man was killed and another seriously injured on Thursday morning after a garbage truck emptied a dumpster in which the two had been sleeping, authorities in New York said Thursday. The fatal incident occurred early in the morning behind a shopping plaza in Commack, a town in Suffolk County on Long Island.
According to Suffolk County police, the men were inside the dumpster when it was lifted and emptied by a sanitation truck during its scheduled pickup. The driver, unaware of their presence, allegedly activated the compactor mechanism and continued the route as planned.
The truck traveled nearly six miles before stopping near William T. Rogers Middle School in Kings Park. Around 6:30 a.m., someone noticed a person inside the rear of the truck and alerted authorities.
Emergency responders removed the surviving man from the truck and transported him to Huntington Hospital, where he was treated for a serious leg injury. The second man was pronounced dead at the scene. Neither has been publicly identified.
The Suffolk County medical examiner’s office will determine the cause of death. However, police said they do not believe the man was already deceased when the dumpster was emptied into the truck.
At this stage, investigators say there is no indication of foul play or intentional harm.
