SAN JOSE – A man was fatally struck by a garbage truck early Thursday while sleeping in an alley in South San Jose, marking the city’s 29th traffic fatality of the year.
The incident occurred around 4:05 a.m. in the 2800 block of Bascom Avenue, near Shamrock Drive.According to the San Jose Police Department, the victim, whose identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin, was lying in a driveway covered in blankets when he was hit by a Peterbilt garbage truck. He was transported to a local hospital and pronounced dead shortly after. The truck driver remained at the scene and was not arrested.
This tragedy underscores a concerning pattern of pedestrian deaths involving garbage trucks in San Jose. Last year, two people were fatally injured by garbage trucks. On January 22, 2024, a man died after being struck near McKendrie and Elm streets, and on February 8, 2024, a woman succumbed to injuries sustained after being hit at South White and Tully roads.
Police are investigating the collision and ask anyone with details to contact Detective Tori DelliCarpini at 408-277-4654 or via email at 4103@sanjoseca.gov. As of the same point in 2024, San Jose had recorded 43 traffic deaths, including 16 pedestrian fatalities.
