PITTSBURGH — The City of Pittsburgh has terminated a municipal sanitation vehicle operator following a fatal collision in Turtle Creek in August.
According to police, the operator was driving a city sanitation vehicle to a disposal site when the truck proceeded through an intersection and struck a pickup truck waiting at a red light, causing injuries that led to the pickup driver’s death at a hospital.
The Allegheny County Police Department is leading the inquiry into the fatal crash.
An Allegheny County Police Department spokesman stated that law enforcement is working alongside county prosecutors on the case.
“The investigation is still active and ongoing. We are in consultation with the district attorney’s office and do not have any updates at this time,” said spokesman Jim Madalinsky.
Months prior to the Turtle Creek crash, the same sanitation vehicle operator was involved in a similar collision in Woods Run.
In that incident, the operator struck a public works vehicle that was stationary at a red signal.
Following the collision, the operator failed drug and alcohol screenings and was placed on leave without pay.
After completing the requirements of an employee assistance program, the worker was allowed to return to duty through what’s known as a last chance agreement.
The operator had returned to work just weeks before the fatal August incident occurred.
It remains uncertain whether the operator intends to challenge the city’s decision to terminate employment. Under a last chance agreement, City of Pittsburgh employees are generally prohibited from submitting a challenge to their termination.
Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
©2026 Cox Media Group
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/XCUXZC2XYZHCRGNNGKFEX6U3LQ.png)
