Pennsylvania sanitation workers talk about dangers they face on the job after coworker struck by car
A sanitation worker hit by a car on the job in Havertown, Delaware County, continued to recover Friday. His coworkers at the Haverford Township Public Works' Sanitation Division said the man was out of the hospital.
A stark message came Friday after a dark day.
"We're not traffic cones with legs. We're human beings that are just trying to do our jobs and get home," said Bob Clark, a sanitation driver with Haverford Township.
The message comes after an incident was caught on camera Thursday just before 8 a.m. A video shared with CBS News Philadelphia from a Haverford Township trash truck shows a car briefly stopping on Leedom Road in Havertown. Then the car is seen speeding around the truck before hitting one of the sanitation workers and leaving the scene.
"My friend, my brother was roadkill," Clark said. He continued, "There wasn't even a brake light."
Haverford Township police said the driver, identified as Douglas Dannibale from the Drexel Hill area, turned himself in Thursday. Dannibale was charged, arraigned and released after posting bail.
"If you're willing to play God with somebody's life... you really need to check yourself," Craig Howard, a sanitation worker with Haverford Township, said.
While the injured man's coworkers note he's out of the hospital, they said he's still in a great deal of pain and pretty banged up. This all comes as he's set to get married next week.
"My main concern is to make sure that everybody goes home safe, all my crew... and that is the worst feeling in the world," Robert Steelman, a sanitation supervisor said.
"Thank God he's okay," said Len Rieco, a neighbor who lives on the street where the crash happened. "It's startling. You go to work, you don't think you could get killed. You know? It's scary."
Neighbors said they heard a truck horn and screams. Many of them ran outside to help, render aid and pray.
"Really we're thankful that all of the neighbors came out to help our employee. It just speaks a lot about Haverford Township, Havertown as a community, and it's a big deal," said Haverford Township Manager David Burman.
Emotions remain high for the public works department. Howard and Clark were also working the route when it all happened.
"My partner is incredibly grateful for the well wishes from all the neighbors and just them coming out and showing an outpouring of love and respect for him," Howard said.
This goes without saying, but the message to drivers now can't be repeated enough.
"All the crews want to do is go home in one piece. Please slow down around my crew," Steelman said.
This job, the crew, well it's family to them.