Waste collection driver killed by train collision

A driver of Phoenix-based Republic Services died after the collection truck he was driving was struck at a railroad crossing in southeast Missouri on the morning of March 13, KFVS reports.

Kenneth Simpson, 50, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, reportedly failed to yield to a Union Pacific train despite the fact the crossing signals were operational at the time of the incident. Simpson wasn’t wearing his seat belt when the collision occurred. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he later died. The train conductor suffered minor injuries from the incident.

Following a deadly crash in January between a train carrying members of Congress and a waste collection truck, David Biderman, executive director and CEO of the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA), released the following statement regarding the need for a greater emphasis on rail crossing safety.  

“There are several incidents each year in which garbage trucks and trains collide, sometimes because of a malfunction, other times because of poor judgement. Too often, these incidents have tragic consequences," Biderman said, "[I]ncidents where solid waste workers are killed on the job occur far too frequently. … SWANA is committed to improving the waste industry’s safety record and preventing tragic incidents like today’s through education, communication and training. Nothing we do is more important.”