Garbage Truck Strikes Overpass In Littleton

Press Release, Aug 14, 2006

On Aug. 2 at 6:27 a.m., Littleton Police were notified of a traffic accident involving a garbage truck striking the railroad overpass on W. Belleview Ave. just east of S. Santa Fe Drive.

Upon arrival, officers found that the back end of the garbage truck had separated from the truck caband was wedged under the railroad overpass. The passenger of the garbage truck was ejected and the driver struck the windshield upon impact. Both subjects were transported to Swedish Medical Center by Littleton Fire Rescue.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the garbage truck, which is owned by Eagle Waste Services of Englewood, was westbound on W. Belleview Avenue when the front end loader of the truck elevated and struck the overpass. This resulted in the rear section of the truck shearing off and becoming pinned under the overpass. The garbage truck is equipped with a front end loader which is designed to raise up over the cab of the truck and pick up dumpsters which are then raised back over the cab and their contents dumped into the rear of the truck.

Representatives from the Union Pacific Railroad and the Colorado Department of Transportation arrived to check the integrity of the overpass. At this time it appears that no structural damage occurred.

Investigation continues by members of the Littleton Police Traffic Unit.