Parsippany Garbage Man Crushed Against Truck, Severely Injured, Cops Say

PARSIPPANY, NJ — A sanitation worker is in the hospital with serious injuries after the garbage truck he was working on was rear-ended, pinning him between the truck and a car, police said.

On Tuesday, around 7 a.m, police were called to the area of Vail Road and Arnold Drive on reports of an accident involving a garbage truck.

Authorities found that a sanitation worker, later identified as 48-year-old Anthony Shandra, was loading trash into the rear of the truck when a Nissan Altima struck him, according to police.

The Nissan, driven by a 29-year-old man, caused Shandra to be pinned between the vehicles, crushing him, police said.

First responders rendered life-saving care to Shandra, and he was rushed to Morristown Medical Center to be treated for "severe injuries to his lower extremities."

The Nissan driver remained on the scene and is cooperating with investigators. No criminal charges have been announced as of Wednesday morning.

The incident is still under investigation, and anyone with information is asked to call the Parsippany Police Department at 973-263-4300.

Shandra, also a member of the Mount Tabor Volunteer Fire Department, underwent major surgery yesterday following the accident, according to a community fundraiser.

"Let us be clear: sanitation work is honest, necessary, and sometimes dangerous work," said Mayor Pulkit Desai. "The men and women who do it deserve not only our gratitude, but our vigilance on the roads."

Desai added that Shandra is now in recovery following surgery, and that he and his family have the "full support" of the administration and town.

The fundraiser, organized by Shandra’s coworkers, will help with medical expenses, missed wages, and “significant challenges for himself and his family,” as he faces a long road to recovery.

The fundraiser has raised nearly $24,000 so far.

Editor's Note: This article has been updated with information from the Parsippany Police Department