An on-duty NYC Department of Environmental Protection worker was killed in a car crash that also left his co-worker injured in Richmond Hill on Thursday, according to authorities.
Police say that at approximately 2:33 a.m. on July 6, the two DEP workers were in a city truck and heading eastbound on Atlantic Avenue — within the confines of the 102nd Precinct — when they were struck by a Mercedes Benz that was heading southbound on Lefferts Boulevard.
The truck then flipped on its side and the male passenger, 38, was ejected and pinned underneath the vehicle. He had suffered severe trauma to his head and body, police said. EMS arrived at the scene and transported him to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
The 40-year-old driver of the truck was treated at the scene for minor injuries, police said. The driver of the Mercedes also sustained minor injuries as a result of the crash and was transported to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center for treatment.
A DEP spokesperson confirmed that the crash involved two on-duty workers.
“DEP is devastated this morning after one of our own was killed on-duty last night when the DEP truck he was riding in was hit by a car. His co-worker, who was driving, suffered minor injuries,” DEP Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala said in a statement to QNS. “Like so many of our employees, these two sewer maintenance workers were serving our city by ensuring that critical city operations run effectively 24/7. Our hearts go out to the family and our profound gratitude goes out to both men for their service to our city.”
The cause of the collision remains under investigation at this time, according to a police spokesperson.
