Sleeping Woman Struck, Killed by Garbage Truck in Parking Lot Accident

Posted on behalf of RizkLaw on Sep 05, 2019 in Auto Accident

At about 6:30 a.m. on Monday, August 26, the body of an unidentified woman was discovered in a red sleeping bag on top of a white shower curtain in a Eugene, Oregon parking lot. The woman had been run over by a SaniPac garbage truck to the east of the alley between 1203 Willamette St. and Ta Ra Rin Thai restaurant, according to an affidavit written by Michael Klews, a Eugene police detective.

There were tire tracks leading up to and on the shower curtain that disappeared on the body. These tracks are believed to be those of a SaniPac garbage truck that was making a routine recycling pick-up that morning.

The woman’s skull was crushed on the pavement, according to Klews’ affidavit. This is why the search warrant that was filed on August 28th was for permission to collect biological evidence from the rear passenger tire area of the truck.

A witness who was parked in the lot at the time of the incident had been asked by the SaniPac driver to move his vehicle. After the garbage truck driver left, the witness noticed the person on the ground and called 9-1-1. A surveillance video police collected from the Level Up Arcade may show the woman being run over by the truck.

Although no charges were immediately filed, the affidavit says the warrant is seeking evidence for the “crime of felony failure to perform the duties of a driver causing injury.” This affidavit was made public in court records on Wednesday, August 28.

Oregon requires drivers to report any motor vehicle accident to the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) within 72 hours if it resulted in:

• Damage to a vehicle or other property that is greater than $1,500
• Damage that causes a vehicle to be towed from the scene of the accident
• An accident that results in any injury or death

A driver who neglects to report an accident is breaking the law and, at a minimum, may have his or her license suspended. If someone is injured or killed and the driver left the scene of the accident without calling 9-1-1 or other first responders, the charges may be more serious.

If you were injured in a truck accident and believe you may have a claim, Rizk Law may be able to help. Contact our licensed Portland truck accident attorneys today for a free initial consultation. If we determine you may have a case, we are ready to pursue fair compensation for your injuries.