Driver blamed for runaway garbage truck

Photo: Contributed

The driver is being blamed for an out of control garbage truck that crashed into a Vernon home last week. At the time of the accident the driver told neighbours it was a mechanical failure. 

RCMP Spokesman Gord Molendyk says once a mechanical inspection was completed the driver was found at fault.

“He was issued a ticket after they did the mechanical on the vehicle. They found that it was in sound mechanical order.”

The accident happened at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan 21.

The Progressive Waste Solutions garbage truck was seen barreling down a steep section of 40th Avenue, its driver was running behind it.

“We were sitting in the front room at 11:30 and my mom felt the house shaking. We looked up and we saw the dump truck go flying past the window. It was going like 50 or 60 (km/h), really fast, and it just flew into the yard …it just kept moving… then we saw the driver running behind it,” shared Daina Bader.

Fortunately, after hitting a rock and changing direction slightly, the truck ended up going between two houses. The truck grazed one home breaking a window and destroying a kids' play area. On the other home, the runaway truck tore the balcony off and damaged a corner of the foundation.

Amazingly, despite both homes being filled with young children, no one was hurt.

Molendyk says it is an unfortunate incident that likely scared the driver to no end. “He is probably in, out of the vehicle between 200 and 500 times a day for sure, and this one time perhaps he didn’t set the brake 100 per cent, or because of the hill I just don’t know.”

The investigating officer gave the driver an $81 ticket for an unsecured motor vehicle. 

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