Worker Killed After Being Run Over By Trash Truck

On Wednesday morning a sand springs sanitation worker lost his life while on the job.

"It's just tragic and I feel really bad for the man's family," said Linda Jones, resident.

Linda Jones woke up Wednesday morning to discover a man dead near the end of her driveway.

"It's all kind of shock at first and now it's soaking in. It's just so tragic," Linda Jones said.

The victim is 52 -year -old Richard Jones. He's worked for the Sand Springs Sanitation Department since July as a temporary solid waste collector. Police said around 7:30 a.m., Richard Jones and two other employees were collecting trash near Rustic Road and East 41st street. But Richard Jones routine ride on the back of the trash truck turned into a sudden death.

"He exited the vehicle and fell beneath the trash truck and was caught by the rear tires of that vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene," said Deputy Police Chief Mike Carter, Sand Springs Police.

Deputy Chief Carter said city employees are distraught about the loss of their co-worker.

"There is a lot of people who are very disturbed that a valued co-worker lost his life serving the citizens of Sand Springs. So it's not a pleasant thing," Deputy Chief Carter said.

According to Deputy Chief Carter, in the 22 years he's been with Sand Springs police, he's never heard of a city employee die while on the job. Right now the police department is investigating the accident. One thing they will look into is if all three workers followed safety procedures. We asked Deputy Chief Carter what those policies and procedures are, but he couldn't give me those details. At least not today.

"Today's focus is again on those employees. So I don't have that information and I am not sure if today it would be appropriate for me to go ask them that.

After the accident, officers interviewed the two other workers. Officials said in addition to the police department's investigation, the City of Sand Springs will also conduct an internal investigation of the accident.

Shortly after the accident, Sand Springs City Manager Mrs. Elizabeth Gray released this statement.

"On behalf of the city of Sand Springs, I wish to express our deep heartfelt sympathy to Richard, his family and all of his co-workers. It is painful to our community to lose a valued member of our city employee family. Richard will be missed by all of us and we will continue to pray for him and his family in this time of sorrow."