Refuse collector stable after collision with car

A Dudley council refuse collector is in a stable condition after suffering life threatening injuries following a collision with a car.

The man, 43, who was working on a trade refuse collection round in Cradley Heath, West Midlands, on Tuesday August 28, is believed to have been loading a wheeled bin onto the back of the vehicle when he was hit by a car.

He suffered severe injuries to both legs and was airlifted to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham for treatment. It is understood that one of his legs was amputated.

The West Midlands police told letsrecycle.com yesterday (September 7) that he was in a stable condition.

Incident

The incident occurred at the junction of Lyde Green and Hillcrest Avenue in Cradley Heath. The scene was attended by an ambulance, a paramedic officer, a paramedic in a rapid response vehicle, the Midlands Air Ambulance, and the Medical Emergency Response team.

A spokesman for the West Midlands Ambulance Service, said: Crews arrived to find a man, believed to be a refuse collection worker, had been seriously injured following a collision between a refuse lorry and car. A man in his forties was treated for serious injuries to both legs.

The patient was immobilised with the use of leg splints, neck collar and placed on a spinal board. He was given pain relief before being taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham for further assessment and treatment.

The spokesman added that the driver of the car, also in his forties, was taken by Ambulance to Russells Hall Hospital with a head injury.

Investigation

Councillor Tracy Wood, cabinet member for environment and culture at Dudley council, said: “One of our refuse collectors was seriously injured while at work on August 28. Our thoughts are with him and his family at this time. The police are currently carrying out investigations and we cannot comment further until these have been completed.

Following the incident the polices collision unit has launched an investigation to determine what happened. A spokeswoman for the West Midlands police said: The police were notified by the ambulance service. Our collision investigation unit will be conducting an investigation into how it happened, which is still on going.

She added that no arrests have been made in connection with the incident.

It is understood that the man worked for the councils direct service organisation, which provides a chargeable commercial waste collection service for businesses in the borough.
Earlier this year, the council implemented a new single service grading and pay structure.