A City of Nanaimo garbage truck full of recycling and organic waste tipped over around noon on Monday, July 22 on Bradbury Rd. near the Rutherford Rd intersection. (James Tripe)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

garbage truck crash

‘Biggest boom you ever heard:’ garbage truck rolls on its side turning off Nanaimo’s Rutherford Rd.

Jul 22, 2024 | 12:39 PM

NANAIMO — The driver of a City garbage truck was taken to hospital with unknown injuries after their vehicle rolled coming off the Rutherford Rd. hill.

Emergency crews were called to the intersection of Bradbury Rd. and Rutherford Rd. shortly before noon on Monday, July 22, after the truck rolled on its side attempting to turn.

A witness on scene Kiersten Zanchetta said the truck was coming down the hill towards Hammond Bay Rd. when it turned right onto Bradbury Rd.

“It looked like he hit the sidewalk or something happened and the whole truck just fell right over, and it was just the loudest, biggest boom you ever heard, BANG. I couldn’t believe it even happened, I thought he hit the lamppost or something, but no, he missed the lamppost.”

Zanchetta who initially called 911, said another witness helped the driver get into a more comfortable position prior to Nanaimo Fire Rescue and BC Emergency Health Services paramedics arriving on scene.

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“A fellow, he used to be a firefighter, had an axe in his vehicle went and axed out the window and got his legs free. We waited for paramedics to show up, paramedics showed up and pulled him out.”

Bystanders used an axe to smash through the front window, helping the driver. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Collections in the neighbourhood were for the blue recycling bins and the green organic waste bins.

No substantial material spilled onto the roadway.

The driver and lone occupant was taken to Nanaimo Regional General Hospital with further care.

A heavy-duty tow truck was called in to recover the garbage truck, with traffic reduced to a single alternating lane for around 45 minutes along Rutherford Rd. It re-opened to a slowed two-lane traffic around 12:45 p.m.

The City of Nanaimo told NanaimoNewsNOW their collection operations would be unaffected, resuming as normal on Tuesday, July 22.

Nanaimo RCMP said to expect some delays in the area for a few hours Monday afternoon as their traffic analysts investigate to determine the cause of the incident.

A CIty of Nanaimo garbage truck rolled as it attempted to make a turn from Rutherford Rd. to Bradbury Rd. on Monday. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

BC Hydro crews were called to the scene after at least one line was down following the garbage truck roll over, although no power distruptions are bieng reported in the area at this time. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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