Crime & Safety

Garbage Truck Fire Sends 1 to Hospital

The incident happened Wednesday afternoon.

A Waste Management driver is being treated for smoke inhalation after a fire broke out in the trash he was hauling.

The incident unfolded just after noon on Wednesday in the parking lot at 4913 W. Laurel St., according to Tampa Fire Rescue. The driver noticed the trash in the back of his truck was on fire and dumped the smoldering refuse into the lot.

Fire rescue was able to put the blaze out quickly, but the driver had to be taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital for treatment, spokesman Jason Penny reported.

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Waste Management is handling cleanup of the site.

No other injuries were reported.

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Photos courtesy of Tampa Fire Rescue

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