City Sanitation worker dies after falling from truck

A city Sanitation Department worker was killed Saturday evening when he slipped from the garbage truck in which he was riding and was run over by the vehicle's wheels.

Richard Errico, 54, a 19-year member of the city’s Strongest, was maneuvering the truck outside of the DSNY garage in Douglaston in northeastern Queens when he fell out, according to reports.

DSNY Commissioner Jessica Tisch and Mayor Eric Adams were at the garage shortly after the accident. 

“Tonight, our department mourns the loss of Sanitation Worker Richard Errico, a 19-year veteran who served the people of Douglaston, Littleneck, and Bayside as one of the Strongest. He did it proudly. I ask all New Yorkers to pray for his family — for Carol, Brooke, Paige, and Tommy, as Mayor Adams and I did,” Tisch said in a statement. 

The president of the Uniformed Sanitationmen’s Association, Harry Nespoli, said the union had been in contact with Errico’s family. 

“It is with profound sadness and a heavy heart that we mourn the loss of one of our own, Richard Errico. For over 19 years, our fallen brother worked tirelessly to keep the streets of New York City clean and safe. His commitment to public service, in a tough and dangerous job, will not be forgotten,” the union leader said. “Our 8,000 members grieve alongside them and stand ready to support in any way we can.”

According to the NYPD, Errico was behind the wheel of a 2018 Mack Heil garbage truck and was making a U-turn on Douglaston Parkway, just outside the DSNY’s Queens Garage District 11 & 13 when he fell out of the truck’s cab with the steering wheel “fully deflected to the left.” Errico was run over by the truck’s front and rear wheels. 

The NYPD Highway District Collision Investigation Squad’s investigation is ongoing.

According to a GoFundMe page, Errico was a year shy of being able to retire. 

Adams met with Errico’s family Saturday night. 

“Richard kept our streets and communities safe and clean for more than 19 years, and we should all be keeping Richard and his family in our prayers,” the mayor said in a statement. “New York’s Strongest work tirelessly every day in incredibly difficult and physically taxing jobs. Too often, we don’t stop to thank them for all they do to make our city a better place for us all to live. Next time we see one of our trucks pass by or a sanitation worker keeping our neighborhood clean — let’s all give them the thanks and recognition they deserve.” 

City Hall said flags on city buildings and stationary flagstaffs in all five boroughs would be lowered to half-staff in remembrance of Errico.

— Richard Khavkine