An on-duty city Department of Environmental Protection employee was killed when a Mercedes driver rammed into a department truck in Queens early Thursday, cops said.
The two sewer maintenance workers — a 40-year-old driver and 38-year-old passenger — were inside a truck heading east on Atlantic Avenue in Richmond Hill around 2:30 a.m. when a Mercedes-Benz sedan, going south on Lefferts Boulevard, slammed into the driver’s side, police said.
The DEP truck started rolling over, and the passenger was hurled out of the vehicle and pinned underneath, authorities said.
He was rushed to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
The truck’s driver suffered only minor injuries, according to the DEP.
The Mercedes driver, who also suffered minor injuries, stayed at the scene, and was taken to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center as well, cops said.
The driver was later identified as Errick Persaud, 24. He has been charged with vehicular manslaughter and DWI in connection to the fatal crash, cops said.
“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,” DEP Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala said in a statement. “His co-worker, who was driving, suffered minor injuries.”
“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.”
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