City worker dead after being hit by his own garbage truck in Scarborough

A garbage truck driver was struck and killed by the vehicle he was operating on Tuesday morning, Toronto police say.

It happened in Scarborough, near Middleport Crescent and Pennyhill Drive, just southeast of Finch Avenue and Neilson Road, shortly after 8:30 a.m.

Police said the driver, a 66-year-old man, was driving the truck and was out of the vehicle when it began to roll away. The truck then struck the man, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

No other details have been released.

In a statement issued by the City of Toronto, a spokesperson confirmed that the deceased was an employee.

“We offer our heartfelt condolences to our colleague’s family, friends and peers, and are committed to supporting our employees during this difficult time” the statement read in part.

At an unrelated news conference Tuesday morning, Mayor Olivia Chow called the incident “devastating.”

In a subsequent statement, the mayor said all flags on official flagpoles at City Hall, Metro Hall and all Civic Centres will be flown at half-mast until further notice.

“My condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the worker on the Solid Waste Management team who tragically lost his life on the job, serving our city,” Chow said.

Ontario’s Ministry of Labour is investigating. A spokesperson for the ministry told CTV News Toronto they cannot comment on the incident as an investigation gets underway.

In a statement released by the Toronto Civic Employees Union Local 416, the group identified the deceased as a member of the Solid Waste unit.

“On behalf of Local 416 and all our members, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of the worker who lost his life while on the job,” the union said, adding they are working with the Ministry of Labour, Toronto police, and the city to understand what happened.