TURTLE CREEK, Pa. — The driver of a City of Pittsburgh garbage truck involved in a serious crash on Thursday was in a similar accident months ago.
Sources tell 11 Investigates that the crash happened within the past year.
The driver was placed on unpaid leave months ago after testing positive for either drugs or alcohol at the time, but he recently returned to the job, under what’s called a “last-chance agreement.”
Police say, on Thursday, he slammed into the rear end of a car stopped at a red light. The garbage truck then continued through the intersection and struck a pickup truck.
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The driver of the pickup was rushed to the hospital in critical condition.
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Sources tell 11 Investigates the driver of the city garbage truck was involved in a similar accident just months ago. At that time, sources say while driving a city garbage truck, he slammed into a DPW supervisor’s pickup that was stopped at a red light in Woods Run.
Sources tell 11 Investigates the garbage truck driver failed a drug or alcohol test and was placed on unpaid leave, but after completing the employee assistance program, he was allowed to return.
That agreement allows the city to test him for drugs and alcohol at any time.
Sources tell 11 Investigates the garbage truck driver was taken to the hospital for drug and alcohol testing after Thursday’s crash.
The truck was headed to the landfill when the accident happened.
Allegheny County Police are investigating.
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