'Succumbed to his injuries': Haldimand-Norfolk man dead after Copetown garbage truck crash

A man in his 60s from Haldimand-Norfolk has died after a single vehicle collision Tuesday morning on Highway 52 in Copetown.

Speaking at the scene, Hamilton Police media relations officer Const. Indy Bharaj said police responded to Highway 52, just north of Governors Road, shortly after 9:20 a.m. on June 28.

Bharaj said police believe a garbage disposal truck was travelling north on Highway 52 when it began to drift to the right, striking and riding the guardrail for some time. He said the truck eventually fell into the ditch and struck a hydro pole.

The pole fell next to the truck, but Hydro One has since cut off power to the pole, he said. Tire marks begin midway down the concrete guardrail just north of Governors Road, said Bharaj, and are where police believe the truck began to drift off the road.

Bharaj said bystanders in the area began medical assistance on the driver until police arrived, who continued chest compressions.

The driver, a male in his 60s from Haldimand-Norfolk, was transported to hospital.

"It is with heavy hearts that we inform you the driver has since succumbed to his injuries," Bharaj said.

He said police believe they have identified the driver, but are still working to notify next of kin.

Highway 52 has been closed from Governors Road to Concession 2 since shortly after the accident and Bharaj did not have an estimate for how long the road will be closed.

As of 12 p.m., the road remained closed.

The Hamilton Police Collision Reconstruction Unit has carriage of the investigation and Bharaj said police will be on scene until they determine the cause of the crash.

Once we determine what the causes were, that may change, but right now collision reconstruction has carriage of the investigation," he said.

Bharaj said the damage to the truck is minimal, which is why police are working to determine what caused the crash and the injuries to the driver.

He noted road conditions were optimal at the time of the accident and the roadway is straight in the vicinity of the crash.

He said police have not determined if the truck was a City of Hamilton vehicle.

It does have decals on it, but we're still working to determine if it was subcontracted or if it's working for a specified company."