Exclusive Video: Garbage Truck Wreaks Havoc On Brooklyn Neighborhood, Driver Charged With DWI
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – An out-of-control garbage truck wreaked havoc on a Brooklyn neighborhood, crushing cars, taking down trees and damaging a home.
As CBS2's Lisa Rozner reported, the alleged drunk driver tried to run from the chaotic scene in Bensonhurst but was captured by police.
Witnesses said it's a miracle no one was hurt.
Police said the rampage started just after 5:30 a.m. Saturday. The driver went down 60th Street between 18th and 19th Avenues, lost control of the private garbage truck and crashed into several cars, trees, a street sign and the front of a house.
Shocking Surveillance: Garbage Truck Leaves Path Of Destruction
At least nine vehicles that were parked along the street are now totaled. A white minivan was even left on top of another vehicle, crushing a blue car underneath.
"(It) was something I've never even seen in the movies," witness Angelica Abuin told Rozner.
Police said 40-year-old Anthony Castaldo, of Brooklyn, came to a stop when he slammed into the front porch of a woman's home. He allegedly jumped out of the Viking Sanitation truck and took off.
"He runs across the street to 59th Street, and they caught him there. But they arrested him, put him in the back of the car. He was completely disoriented, he had no idea what he was doing," said witness Shane Durando.
Officers chased him on foot, then used a Taser to subdue and arrest him. He now faces a number of charges, including DWI and resisting arrest.
"I was shocked. It's the least thing you expect on a Saturday morning when you're looking forward to going somewhere with your fiance and then you've gotta deal with this," Durando said.
In a statement sent to CBS2, Viking Sanitation said they have a "long track record of safety" which includes randomly drug testing their drivers.
"It appears that this driver driver failed to adhere to our standards and he was immediately suspended as part of the ongoing investigation of this serious incident," the statement read.
It's unclear if Castaldo was on the job at the time.