TEMPERANCE - A 31-year-old garbage collector from Monroe died early Friday on Summerfield Road, near Freeman Street, in Bedford Township when he was struck by an eastbound vehicle, pinning him between the garbage truck and the vehicle.
Charles Palmer was working for Browning-Ferris Industries waste services and was outside of the truck about 7:30 a.m. loading trash when the accident happened. He was in back of the truck when he was struck by a vehicle, driven by John P. Sengstock, 28, of Temperance.
Mr. Sengstock was treated at Toledo Hospital.
The Monroe County sheriff department's traffic division is continuing its investigation of the accident.
Mr. Palmer's death has sparked concern about the safety of garbage collectors.
“I'm still in shock,” Doug Fish, BFI division vice president, said. “The guy was on the right side of the road wearing the right clothes and everything, and he was still taken out. Your emotions run the whole course. It's very tough to deal with.”
Drew Koet, a co-worker at BFI, said trash collectors worry about the vehicles that speed by as crews pick up garbage.
“There isn't a year that goes by where we don't have countless stories of guys diving out of the way of cars or jumping into the [back of the truck],” Mr. Koet said.
Mr. Koet said public and private sector waste service companies will send trucks to the funeral to form a procession in tribute to Mr. Palmer.
Mr. Koet and Mr. Fisher said they hope the funeral will make the public more aware of the dangers that garbage workers face.
“Everybody wants their garbage to disappear, but they have to let us do our jobs,” Mr. Fish said. “Charles was a very good young man who did everything right. It was in the daylight and it still happened. What do you do?”
Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in St. Patrick Church, Carleton, Mich. The Rupp Funeral Home, 2345 South Custer Rd., Monroe, is handling arrangements.
First Published December 24, 2000, 12:13 p.m.