City truck kills man lying under debris
A man hidden by debris was run over by a city utility truck Thursday on the Southeast Side in what appears to be “a tragic accident,” police said.
An employee with the city’s Public Works Department was checking water gauges and cleaning around a culvert near the intersection of Southeast Military Drive and Goliad Road shortly before 10 a.m.
As the worker drove away from the culvert, he felt a bump, according to Chris Ramos, spokesman for San Antonio Police Department.
The worker stopped to investigate and discovered the utility truck had struck a man who was lying on the ground, covered in debris and clothing, he said. The worker immediately called police.
The man, who has not been identified, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police do not expect the Public Works employee to face charges.
“The driver is shaken up, but he is cooperating with investigators,” Ramos said. “This appears just to be a tragic accident.”
Roland Garces, 55, a homeless person living nearby, said his daughter rushed to the area when she heard of the accident. She initially thought he was the victim before finding him with friends a few blocks away.
“It warmed her heart, but I wouldn’t want anything to happen to anybody,” Garces said. “Poor
soul.”
Garces noted that a friend had recently been hit
by a car while crossing Southeast Military near the same intersection. The
friend survived.
“It’s harsh out here,” Garces said. “It’s harsh.”